tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37513687983329479322024-03-23T03:14:13.968-07:00God's Chemistry SetDeuteronomy 29:29 - The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law. (NIV)God's Chemistry Sethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395978295675996565noreply@blogger.comBlogger172125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3751368798332947932.post-89546387220893616362022-11-11T19:28:00.000-08:002022-11-11T19:28:07.362-08:00Science and a Proof of God - Thomas Aquinas and his Five Ways<p>
Today we are going to discuss some scientific ideas that proport to prove the existence of God. They were originally proposed by Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century. Thomas lived from 1224 to 1274. He was a great scientific philosopher-theologian of the Catholic Church and lived before modern science was a recognized discipline.
</p><p>
So lets take a brief look at the history of Science. What would be considered Ancient Science had its earliest roots in Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia starting around 3000 BC to about 1200 BC. Its contributions shaped Greek natural philosophy and the ideas of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, all living in the 5th to 4th Century BC. Ancient Science provided explanations of events in the physical world based on natural causes.
</p><p>
Then, in the 15th through the mid-18th centuries the Scientific Revolution and the birth of modern scientific methods occured, resulting in substantial advances in factual knowledge in chemistry, biology and physics.
</p><p>
So after the Greek philosophers and just before the Scientific Revolution started, Thomas Aquinas published his Five Ways.
</p><p>
In his book, <i>Summa Theologica</i>, he proposed his "Five Ways" or five logical arguments for the existence of God. His Five Ways were designed to prove the existence of God through nature. Although they were first proposed over 700 years ago, they still have relevance today.
</p><p>
Thomas' intent for the Five Ways was to demonstrate a general, objective, rational case for God’s existence using commonly available (at his time) observations. The Five Ways are best viewed as an introduction to the idea of God’s existence, not the entire sum of Christian theology.
</p><p>
The Five Ways to show the existence of God according to Thomas Aquinas:
<ul>
<li>The First Way – An Unmoved Mover - The Argument from Change
<li>The Second Way – The First Cause - The Argument from Causality
<li>The Third Way – Contingency or Necessary Being - The Argument from Contingency
<li>The Fourth Way – Gradation - The Argument from Perfection
<li>The Fifth Way – Design - The Argument from Purpose
</ul>
</p><p></p><p>
</p><p>
<hr width="90%" />
<div style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 115%;"><b>This is the account of the heavens</b></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 115%;"><b>And the earth when they were created,</b></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 115%;"><b>When the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.</b></span><br>
<span><b><font color="#aa0114">- Genesis 2:4 (NIV)</font></b></span><br>
</div>
<hr width="90%" />
</p><p>
<b>The First Way – An Unmoved Mover - The Argument from Change</b>
</p><p>
All of creation is in motion. However, nothing changes by itself without something else causing the change. There has to be an unchangeable first mover to start the whole thing in motion. <b>The unchangeable first mover is God</b>
</p><p>
<b>The Second Way – The First Cause - The Argument from Causality</b>
</p><p>
Everything in existence was caused by something else. Nothing in existence comes about by its own doing. There has to be an uncaused cause from which everything else comes. <b>The uncaused cause is God</b>
</p><p>
<b>The Third Way – Contingency or Necessary Being - The Argument from Contingency</b>
</p><p>
It is not necessary for anything in the world to exist at all. It is also true that nothing and no one exists forever. There is a necessary being on which the existence of all other things is contingent, or dependent. <b>The necessary being that holds it all in existence is God</b>
</p><p>
<b>The Fourth Way – Gradation - The Argument from Perfection</b>
</p><p>
In the world we see a spectrum on which things exist. There is a scale of good, better, and best. There must be a standard which is perfectly good, perfectly true, and perfectly beautiful. <b>The standard by which everything else is judged is God</b>
</p><p>
<b>The Fifth Way – Design - The Argument from Purpose</b>
</p><p>
There is an intelligent design to the way the world works. Internally, things lack the intelligence/functionality to operate alone. It is impossible for this intelligent design to happen completely at random. Creation needs an intelligent designer for everything to work properly. <b>The Intelligent Designer is God</b>
</p><p></p><p>
<b>The Five Ways Today</b>
</p><p>
As we can see, there are strong similarities between Aquinas’s Five Ways and many common arguments used today for the existence of God. Aquinas’s first three arguments share a common theme: that causality, logic, and so forth lead to an inference of the existence of a deity. The most frequently used of these in the modern world is referred to as the <b>Cosmological Argument:</b> Attempting to prove God’s existence by observing the world around us, i.e. the cosmos.
</p><p>
The fourth argument is almost identical to the <b>Ontological Argument:</b> Arguments that rely on pure reasoning. Aquinas saw a distinction; however, he was arguing that goodness or power in some finite object can only come from some other, greater source.
</p><p>
The fifth argument, also known as the <b>Teleological Argument:</b> The appearance of design and purpose in nature implies a designer, is similar to the modern-day argument from <b>Intelligent Design:</b> The theory says that intelligent causes are necessary to explain the complex, information-rich structures of biology and that these causes are empirically detectable.
</p><p></p><p>
<b>Scientists Objections:</b>
</p><p>There are two key objections by scientists today used to shut down Thomas' Five Ways. They are:
<ol>
<li>If God existed, there would be no evil discoverable in the world; but there is evil in the world. Therefore, God does not exist. <ul><li>This does not consider that per the Christian view, God gave man free will which would allow for evil to exist.
</li></ul>
<li>Everything we see in the world can be accounted for by other principles. All-natural things can be reduced to one principle which is nature; and all voluntary things can be reduced to one principle which is human reason, or will. Therefore, there is no need to suppose God’s existence.<ul><li>This does not consider that nature or reason can not exist without a higher power over all.
</li></ul>
</ol>
</p><p><a title="By NASA/WMAP Science Team (Original version: NASA; modified by Ryan Kaldari) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ACMB_Timeline300_no_WMAP.jpg"><img align="right" width="300" alt="CMB Timeline300 no WMAP" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/CMB_Timeline300_no_WMAP.jpg/256px-CMB_Timeline300_no_WMAP.jpg" hspace="20" vspace="10"/></a>
</p><p>
</p><p>
<b>Scientific Discoveries that point to God</b> (Adapted from Dr. Stephen C Meyer at the Discovery Institute)
</p><p>
Although not everyone will agree, there is a growing amount of evidence that there must be an outside "Force" that is driving the universe and all that happens here. We will look briefly at four recent discoveries that point to God as that Force.
</p><p>
<ol>
<li><b>The Universe had a beginning</b> (The Big Bang):
<ul>
<li>Red Shift in starlight shows that the universe is expanding from a big bang singularity (creation of all matter, time, space and energy - not a material cause).
<li>There needs to be a cause for this (no matter who does the causing) - the best explanation is an immaterial creative mind, i.e. God
</ul>
<li><b>Since the beginning the universe has been fine-tuned</b>
<ul>
<li>Everything is just right, not to strong or weak, or too big or small (a goldilocks universe).
<li>If any forces or factors are changed, even in the slightest, the universe as we know it would not exist.
<li>At this point there are 10's to 100's of such factors known to scientists. (Gravity, Magnetic Force, Strong Nuclear Force, Weak Nuclear Force).
</ul>
<li><b>The fossil record is non-Darwinian</b>
<ul>
<li>Changes in speciation should be happening gradually and continually per Darwin but the actual fossil record shows changes come quickly (Scientists circumvent this with Puncuated Equilibrium)
<li>An example is the Cambrian explosion
<li>Mutation and natural selection cannot build such complex creatures, even if given the expanse of time since the Big Bang (14 billion years).
</ul>
<li><b>DNA Alpha Helix structure</b> (and other complex molecules)
<ul>
<li>DNA is a complex information storage, transmission and processing system inside each cell.
<li>DNA is like a software program but more complex than any program man has written.
<li>Information is the product of intelligence. The foundation of life is in the DNA.
</ul>
</ol>
</p><p>
<b>Summary</b>
</p><p>
So, we have looked at past and present debates for the existence of God. Do any of these resonate with your sense of reason to accept the truth of the existence of God? Perhaps you had a merely childlike trust and faith in the existence of God in your heart, but now you can feel more certain in your mind that God is in control.
</p><p>
</p><p>
<div style="margin: 15px"><a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/esv/pro/25/2/s_653002">Proverbs 25:2 (ESV)</a> - It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.
</div>
</p><p>
<!---
<ul>
<li>Scientists or STEM proponents may not believe that God exists and believe that the Bible is anti-science.
</ul>
</p>
--->
God's Chemistry Sethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395978295675996565noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3751368798332947932.post-25773581672469779862022-02-22T20:32:00.000-08:002022-02-22T20:32:16.789-08:00The Long and Winding Road to My Magnum Opus<p>
My wife, Cathy, is the true artist in the family, having created hundreds of artistic works in her lifetime, mostly paintings and drawings and a number of amazing murals. This story begins in the summer of 1992 with one of her first murals, a beach scene in our sons' bedroom. Two of our teenage sons shared a large bedroom and the older one wanted to have the perfect wave painted on one wall. He loved and still does love surfing, as do his wife and kids. He makes use of his family's vacation times for them to all travel the world exploring the great beaches, looking for the best waves.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgAilFh2f7jMUhL-ve14e7kTwLy6S_wFbJFmVHkwsjW7Li-HTwch2Q1Tk1Ajuyn886-MV5y5_DICyrPAMkDAVhUUbcPJfndb4av-ZV3T-Zr36Uh0UWbYOl6weruTSeOOXebBu21_rvkP620gM9ovW39gMFpXqAJsccX3lrzzRHZMQqMntaJHnXhX4lB=s2984" style="display: block; padding: 0em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img hspace="5" vspace="0" alt="Beach Mural" border="5" width="380" data-original-height="1948" data-original-width="2984" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgAilFh2f7jMUhL-ve14e7kTwLy6S_wFbJFmVHkwsjW7Li-HTwch2Q1Tk1Ajuyn886-MV5y5_DICyrPAMkDAVhUUbcPJfndb4av-ZV3T-Zr36Uh0UWbYOl6weruTSeOOXebBu21_rvkP620gM9ovW39gMFpXqAJsccX3lrzzRHZMQqMntaJHnXhX4lB=s320"/></a></div>
Anyway, my wife took on the challenge and painted a tropical scene with sandy beaches and palm trees and a wave - a vision of my son's perfect wave - breaking near the shore. The seascape took up the entire south wall, clear to the peak of the raised ceiling and wrapped around the corners onto the adjacent walls. It was truly a work of art and a labor of love.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEir70M70Xc2gL0OuT415lbQVHFrpaE-AFyJ1Dwt0H468UOzPu2PSl1OIDvaR4g9zp3CEq7TkBz9c52Ti-Xyf-DBVMekYlXkTD9l7RSYi35B-K7BSSqTdEpKip9i2l65S6VhUIcqdpyuBNOEJ929enObLGr8K83HXzzs2Eghcf1dEsrjevCdVbLjzU3f=s3567" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" hspace="5" vspace="0" border="0" width="260" data-original-height="2793" data-original-width="3567" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEir70M70Xc2gL0OuT415lbQVHFrpaE-AFyJ1Dwt0H468UOzPu2PSl1OIDvaR4g9zp3CEq7TkBz9c52Ti-Xyf-DBVMekYlXkTD9l7RSYi35B-K7BSSqTdEpKip9i2l65S6VhUIcqdpyuBNOEJ929enObLGr8K83HXzzs2Eghcf1dEsrjevCdVbLjzU3f=s320"/></a></div>
</p><p>
So, jump ahead to 2004 and both of those boys have moved out and are married as are most of our other kids. We now call the bedroom "The Beach Room" as the mural has endured all those years and is a centerpiece of art within our home. When new friends come to our home it is one of the first things that we share with them while touring the house. In fact it is still there today (2022) so has held this prominent spot for almost 30 years.
</p><p>
<hr width="90%" />
<div style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 115%;"><b>Each of Us has Something Great within Us</b></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 115%;"><b>Just Waiting to be Released</b></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 115%;"><b>In God's Perfect Timing</b></span><br>
</div>
<hr width="90%" />
My wife now (in 2004) wants to decorate the room with a "seafaring" theme, adding items unbefitting a teenager's room such as seagull figures and seashells and - a porthole. So, it is at this point that I come into the picture. I enjoy looking for eclectic artifacts on eBay (an online shopping network much like an internet garage sale), where people sell their stuff they no longer want or need.
</p><p>
So, I volunteered to find a porthole to decorate the wall.
</p><p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbcBXUPEzDK8_ab6nKvPRJiyPH24HWJ2D5kwoH76b6wTRt7zyPlJ6a_Vor-_NFgzmgaE5yAVY0qEqHlEYSJ9vggSGSQSj7ddKp1RoyvJ8d0j_dHx9VX5jH74fm3E3eWP9wp0vyDbK1jdvN6oOuC47oz8aYiBk-tgvmsjEJxVDk92RmQs_cyDfWJj8k=s2000" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="1438" data-original-width="2000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgbcBXUPEzDK8_ab6nKvPRJiyPH24HWJ2D5kwoH76b6wTRt7zyPlJ6a_Vor-_NFgzmgaE5yAVY0qEqHlEYSJ9vggSGSQSj7ddKp1RoyvJ8d0j_dHx9VX5jH74fm3E3eWP9wp0vyDbK1jdvN6oOuC47oz8aYiBk-tgvmsjEJxVDk92RmQs_cyDfWJj8k=s320"/></a></div>I began my search for the perfect porthole and, much to my dismay, the portholes I found were painted over or rusted or broken or with only a part of the porthole remaining. But finally, I found one that looked complete and in good shape, with only minor paint around the bolt holes. It said it was 27 inches in diameter and weighed 100 pounds but in my excitement, I really didn't notice. I thought it would be perfect for "The Beach Room" so I bid on it and WON!
</p><p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjG64fLM-KMvGpcl1K27Qt5rNqk_am5BZZphxIHT8kSBncnZmVrEvykLFg7SfVMmaW-pzR5q4Ne-WPqZeNUqNPmOOvyBk7dE4XmzroH3KEnrynyEb40upNmYkwC1dtrH3j5pFTN_64YuHyj3CB6w5NQo9oe4SlZ3WcfNi0yym2s9rk1zOnZ08jT2lF1=s3680" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" hspace="5" vspace="0" border="0" width="260" data-original-height="1829" data-original-width="3680" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjG64fLM-KMvGpcl1K27Qt5rNqk_am5BZZphxIHT8kSBncnZmVrEvykLFg7SfVMmaW-pzR5q4Ne-WPqZeNUqNPmOOvyBk7dE4XmzroH3KEnrynyEb40upNmYkwC1dtrH3j5pFTN_64YuHyj3CB6w5NQo9oe4SlZ3WcfNi0yym2s9rk1zOnZ08jT2lF1=s320"/></a></div>Now I don't remember but, most likely I did all of this without asking my wife for her thoughts on my choice of a porthole. When my wife saw it, she said no, that it was too big and too heavy. She wanted a much smaller porthole, maybe 12 inches in diameter, with a mirror inside that could be hung on the wall above a beached themed shelf holding beach related bric-a-brac.
</p><p>
So now (April 2004), since I won it, I had to buy it. It was shipped to our home on a wooden pallet and I said I thought it was cool and that I would do something with it at some later date, like maybe make a porthole table out of it. I had seen porthole tables while browsing eBay and they were generally not much to look at but it was all I could think of at the moment. Little did I know what it would take to get the job done!
</p><p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgzybZTXLJYd-YyHs48RaPSVIfnDptxIGXbSaff7KVn8lQw-fjIbaoaB5ZApNeT7g3sRWFcYSGW79yhHRQhLB1E2kIW4gTh061x89aksZajUEyZWfTPxNdvl7U5E_v9J7YaUU4cseYHSbbiStvOgNeBsJeDBV2OVfF_QOFjYFXxq71qNFzXdEQfhAqf=s400" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" hspace="5" vspace="0" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="167" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgzybZTXLJYd-YyHs48RaPSVIfnDptxIGXbSaff7KVn8lQw-fjIbaoaB5ZApNeT7g3sRWFcYSGW79yhHRQhLB1E2kIW4gTh061x89aksZajUEyZWfTPxNdvl7U5E_v9J7YaUU4cseYHSbbiStvOgNeBsJeDBV2OVfF_QOFjYFXxq71qNFzXdEQfhAqf=s320"/></a></div>I stuck the porthole on a lower shelf in the garage with big plans but no time. So, there it lay hidden, for years and years, with me pulling it out every now and again to think about building something with it. At one point I went back on eBay looking for something to use as table legs and found some 4-foot-long brass poles, the kind used on circus carousels to make the horses go up and down. I bought them and tried to work out a design for the table but to no avail. I think the poles are buried in my garage, most likely only to be resurrected by my kids after I am gone.
</p><p>
Every now and then I would mention the porthole to my family, saying I was going to make a table out of it. It became the big joke as I was all talk but little to no action.
</p><p>
So, moving on, I retired in 2015 and started to settle in to my new life. My wife and I had plans to fix up our home and I worked on a number of remodel type projects around the house as well as spent more time with my kids and grandkids. Between these projects, my grandkids and my naps, it kept me busy most of the time. I would think about the porthole and had different ideas running through my head but didn't do any real work on it until COVID. It's not that COVID really prompted me to do it, it was just the timing as things slowed down at home, and I needed to clean out my garage (still a project to finish by the way). I went looking for a project and decided that it was time to really focus on the porthole and what to do about it.
</p><p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJtIxWCgnqbNAW4s3jd4VPnfZch_o-ufXvCP4Ltdwx0KZl9CivLDafit927QwuIjOXyOA-f5VwuatFMrU8lx3KEEIZ7TguzNtbor_V6Q4I5r-KI_CN2sItRFkMPSm8DE_7X1tgHZGaEfYRQ1_pju1XHEmMIUwNd1p7uHER0c2UFD8k9aMonK-vEdQB=s2233" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" hspace="5" vspace="0" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="2233" data-original-width="1448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjJtIxWCgnqbNAW4s3jd4VPnfZch_o-ufXvCP4Ltdwx0KZl9CivLDafit927QwuIjOXyOA-f5VwuatFMrU8lx3KEEIZ7TguzNtbor_V6Q4I5r-KI_CN2sItRFkMPSm8DE_7X1tgHZGaEfYRQ1_pju1XHEmMIUwNd1p7uHER0c2UFD8k9aMonK-vEdQB=s320"/></a></div>I started my research by scanning any websites I could find that sold nautical pieces. I wanted to know as much as I could about my porthole. At some time in the past I had connected to a company that would get boatloads of nautical wares from India or China or elsewhere in the South Pacific and then offer them for sale. I saw more tables but no portholes of the size and condition of mine. I gathered information on-line about John Roby LTD, the English foundry that apparently had made the porthole. I contacted some museums in Liverpool and St Helens, and even a used nautical dealer in Maine who sent me a paragraph from the internet as his contribution.
</p><p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEif8klbZMaFRP2Ae_mJOb--Z1GviTxMox6HhGLO0NJ7xVdDR3Qa5wu9cCaRcnbpQdat-dhNYvuPRz1nK5lgIL3YGoB3QaiHmrr37hSUPL14wYYQQ3ub9L1n-cd47yVVxm7uKw-7N4FaU23mrE1XoH4A0mel_gpEVjvua35Yx4gPjbXvrnOWh4LT2pm0=s4016" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" hspace="5" vspace="0" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="2063" data-original-width="4016" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEif8klbZMaFRP2Ae_mJOb--Z1GviTxMox6HhGLO0NJ7xVdDR3Qa5wu9cCaRcnbpQdat-dhNYvuPRz1nK5lgIL3YGoB3QaiHmrr37hSUPL14wYYQQ3ub9L1n-cd47yVVxm7uKw-7N4FaU23mrE1XoH4A0mel_gpEVjvua35Yx4gPjbXvrnOWh4LT2pm0=s320"/></a></div>I have yet to find a porthole even close to the size and condition of mine, nor can I determine how old mine is. I suspect, based on the little information I have about the John Roby foundry, that my porthole is possibly 100+ years old. The true answer is probably somewhere in one of the English museums, in their archives of paperwork from John Roby. Below is some history from the St Helens Star that support my thoughts.
</p><p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWEIXDKoPNSY8_Ix9SKjA2PyuaE2HLRHKW_rz0G46XFZ7wh12qJmNRpMQBkOmgt1pTeWgV4Wail17pkn5U_AEZ2LPkPtB-YQvq0x5Yy6h_hOS7QXE5ENidcBpi2L-0kWAAqbqDWgK0SxhAA5spSp7twK1xexm5TG1spG3g36_wrShbDL_FiAcIJGDF=s3797" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" hspace="5" vspace="0" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="2466" data-original-width="3797" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWEIXDKoPNSY8_Ix9SKjA2PyuaE2HLRHKW_rz0G46XFZ7wh12qJmNRpMQBkOmgt1pTeWgV4Wail17pkn5U_AEZ2LPkPtB-YQvq0x5Yy6h_hOS7QXE5ENidcBpi2L-0kWAAqbqDWgK0SxhAA5spSp7twK1xexm5TG1spG3g36_wrShbDL_FiAcIJGDF=s320"/></a></div>The John Roby LTD Foundry was located in Rainhill England within the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens, in Merseyside. It is near the port city of Liverpool which is located on the River Mersey where it meets the Irish Sea. If you know any music from the 1960's, this is the same Liverpool that the Beatles called home.
</p><p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUCy23Fsa03Bio8U3w5l_D8VmaMNS6ExJHPLMoCL-Sdp-XWA7xggJD2C_XGDFM5Ce07T3Qga0kAIkgGQ4HO1s71iMuWSfz2xELtkGKbF_qqOTS52en0jpJrbIzjreRZRfOxHs5BNcnqtfNSvZCB_eYhp8Bgq2RjwssdexoPLpK2OUHBwxK5dIMlZmO=s1000" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" hspace="5" vspace="0" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="865" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiUCy23Fsa03Bio8U3w5l_D8VmaMNS6ExJHPLMoCL-Sdp-XWA7xggJD2C_XGDFM5Ce07T3Qga0kAIkgGQ4HO1s71iMuWSfz2xELtkGKbF_qqOTS52en0jpJrbIzjreRZRfOxHs5BNcnqtfNSvZCB_eYhp8Bgq2RjwssdexoPLpK2OUHBwxK5dIMlZmO=s320"/></a></div>John Roby was in operation from the late 1850's to 1973. Another foundry in the area during those years was Thomas Utley LTD. The Utley workbooks dated 1888 to 1903 (held by St Helens Archives), reveal that a huge amount of work was contracted to John Roby. A daybook held by the Liverpool Maritime Museum Archive similarly shows a constant flow of orders from the Utley Foundry to the Roby Foundry - all items made to Utley patterns and often to a special mixture of metals.
</p><p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhx7Qoiut4rfCqJU1t_6U7mHCziRpwXWCQaLjL7gGX-zKTGfpid3VlrzcilzxReB0_BlJBxc7vSBlADBCbP_L2qpXtwpiUbmpN3CiZwC8jlNZTH2okNH_0DWOcvAFT6UJFohiJQtxl1yJHrB1dgMgcl-rPjextQmtwhkEwPld-ym8UH6ppL6HPaUXmX=s3813" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" hspace="5" vspace="0" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="2183" data-original-width="3813" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhx7Qoiut4rfCqJU1t_6U7mHCziRpwXWCQaLjL7gGX-zKTGfpid3VlrzcilzxReB0_BlJBxc7vSBlADBCbP_L2qpXtwpiUbmpN3CiZwC8jlNZTH2okNH_0DWOcvAFT6UJFohiJQtxl1yJHrB1dgMgcl-rPjextQmtwhkEwPld-ym8UH6ppL6HPaUXmX=s320"/></a></div>Thomas Utley LTD was a primary supplier of metal fittings for the Titanic. Unfortunately, their surviving workbooks do not cover the period when the Titanic was built (the Titanic was built at the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast, Ireland between March 1909 and May 1911) but there is no reason to believe that the pattern of the previous twenty plus years had changed, so it is very possible that John Roby LTD worked on sidelights, port holes and other fittings which were destined for the Titanic, or one of its sister ships, the Olympic and the Britannic.
</p><p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfLcysA6PxoGFzNvaVrVxHsZDo-ugQNbNykYzAVdqFBL-1RBAodHpHaHd7PCZXVtTQz0GoyXWk80hjgr_8EFwc-Edx9s1fKvYx1U2Blfd3E61AcoRTSwnfl3hO6IMG1IOgmwtyaFD5s6mKCP0f_VuzcZoXtqyG0rmNbHivtlPeTMi3KueVHzoln7nF=s3673" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" hspace="5" vspace="0" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="2906" data-original-width="3673" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhfLcysA6PxoGFzNvaVrVxHsZDo-ugQNbNykYzAVdqFBL-1RBAodHpHaHd7PCZXVtTQz0GoyXWk80hjgr_8EFwc-Edx9s1fKvYx1U2Blfd3E61AcoRTSwnfl3hO6IMG1IOgmwtyaFD5s6mKCP0f_VuzcZoXtqyG0rmNbHivtlPeTMi3KueVHzoln7nF=s320"/></a></div>In 1928 the two foundries reached an agreement whereby John Roby Ltd would receive first refusal on all orders of ships' lights. Then, in 1931, Utley was brought to the brink of bankruptcy when work on the Queen Mary was suspended. So, John Roby LTD bought some of the machinery from their Tuebrook site along with the name "Thomas Utley" and in 1934 Thomas Utley (Rainhill) LTD was founded and the sale of Utley products under license resumed at the Rainhill Foundry of John Roby LTD. The two companies eventually merged during the harsh trading conditions for shipping companies in 1966 and the company closed the Rainhill site in 1973. The TM Utley Foundry continues operations in St Helens today. Without any firm evidence, I am unable to date my porthole, except that it was probably made between 1880 and 1960, most likely sometime in the middle of that period (1910-30ish?).
</p><p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifrWOMod2WC9tcXfIXQ6RLBR4kNIelSk3Fk7Tg_beNnESEOmwf6bjc5txvzYief1zotXGyLlqxQ6yem0zYkbho7cAkGDMKxfRykift2HH3cDmMxPBhxR-pzcGsxWVHap_HwH-3d5S6oa8R7WyidAjCYWYT0IhXkjOfe-_HrwFJfBHGA1nT9kzHHeda=s956" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" hspace="5" vspace="0" border="0" width="260" data-original-height="798" data-original-width="956" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEifrWOMod2WC9tcXfIXQ6RLBR4kNIelSk3Fk7Tg_beNnESEOmwf6bjc5txvzYief1zotXGyLlqxQ6yem0zYkbho7cAkGDMKxfRykift2HH3cDmMxPBhxR-pzcGsxWVHap_HwH-3d5S6oa8R7WyidAjCYWYT0IhXkjOfe-_HrwFJfBHGA1nT9kzHHeda=s320"/></a></div>So, leaving the porthole I moved on to the tabletop. What should it be? I found a company in Iowa, The Lumber Shack, that sells live edge tree slices and trunk rounds. I searched their inventory frequently for something I thought might work, using pictures of different rounds that I thought had a lot of character, overlaying them with the porthole and trying to find a good match.
</p><p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDxeYGltcQYq1BHdXVhMlP-mSO3eAUj2ZQSZrZWbuG7M33EkfkvEHhFXuW3i3UDBL-4eTWYzBHWlY9wPEIoWAgSGW4P8Eqk1glO4Vp8Y3aXHVjNBTKM-d00nwvE_hnuHmwC-F2a2zYynds4MHpy3ahIrbTo3U-jsnHObMyfcRGPZaq8NFSdXLav4_B=s1350" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" hspace="5" vspace="0" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="808" data-original-width="1350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiDxeYGltcQYq1BHdXVhMlP-mSO3eAUj2ZQSZrZWbuG7M33EkfkvEHhFXuW3i3UDBL-4eTWYzBHWlY9wPEIoWAgSGW4P8Eqk1glO4Vp8Y3aXHVjNBTKM-d00nwvE_hnuHmwC-F2a2zYynds4MHpy3ahIrbTo3U-jsnHObMyfcRGPZaq8NFSdXLav4_B=s320"/></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMwIMb-XLtjW2HjbQTAgmh5bnmpqRRzlbM19RIM6ZmaF4gegAK6pxqD7yXh34CKfAWFW2mVtBPXeYoMROe9IO4GS40YOjE3pLTLh3Y72fwxJ3emOfMxbguK9-n3ACY3xANFLlcSD46clJQTYmrnTkGmyS2aEbcp2Fc1Tvv8N-WeOu9yzAVBii-7q-l=s1350" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" hspace="5" vspace="0" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="808" data-original-width="1350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhMwIMb-XLtjW2HjbQTAgmh5bnmpqRRzlbM19RIM6ZmaF4gegAK6pxqD7yXh34CKfAWFW2mVtBPXeYoMROe9IO4GS40YOjE3pLTLh3Y72fwxJ3emOfMxbguK9-n3ACY3xANFLlcSD46clJQTYmrnTkGmyS2aEbcp2Fc1Tvv8N-WeOu9yzAVBii-7q-l=s320"/></a></div>I finally settled on some black walnut slices from a 100-year-old tree that had come down in someone's yard in Iowa. I thought the size and age matched the porthole well. The Lumber Shack had 8 to 10 slices from this same tree so I compared them all until I finally decided on one of the larger slices. It had a lot of character with its undulating edges. It also had a crack in the middle but that was fine since I was going to cut the middle out anyway. Not being skilled at working with such a delicate piece of lumber, I had The Lumber Shack de-bark the edge, epoxy the whole round and cut out the circle in the middle.
</p><p>
I moved to designing the base for the table. It had to be strong enough to hold up the 100-pound porthole, the 60-pound tree round and the glass plate I was planning to add to the top. It also needed to be able to roll around so it could be moved in the room and be able to be dismantled so the table could be moved into the house. My wife was not sure she wanted this in the house. I knew she would love it when it was complete but she just didn't have my vision for the piece yet!
</p><p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhvUSQWoyqvOaRmdZl3YleIQRcBZwc82s-ka2dyVedp5N-bYrJZkgtJOwR6mJqhBvLjnPbtIGgTKlEnpbfCkwY5EIzIy46MalO0rhX6fSWIx6-3Mho9CA9BgJ_ID1Be_MaR-hsG7PrPADpr8KKAtFwmQL6DH0M-dLRQaqW58Vt0OgcUwXkKHlRRsVhK=s2700" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" hspace="5" vspace="0" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="2290" data-original-width="2700" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhvUSQWoyqvOaRmdZl3YleIQRcBZwc82s-ka2dyVedp5N-bYrJZkgtJOwR6mJqhBvLjnPbtIGgTKlEnpbfCkwY5EIzIy46MalO0rhX6fSWIx6-3Mho9CA9BgJ_ID1Be_MaR-hsG7PrPADpr8KKAtFwmQL6DH0M-dLRQaqW58Vt0OgcUwXkKHlRRsVhK=s320"/></a></div>I created a rough design with a steel round the diameter of the porthole that was about a foot tall. The porthole would fit into this round, creating a storage space in the middle. On this would be attached a plate to hold the tree round where the porthole would bolt into the tree section. Finally, I added several round plates to the outside of the steel round to create a soft look when viewing the table from the side. I provided my drawings to a local steel fabricator, Fabco Steel, and they created a proper CAD design and made the metal pieces I requested.
</p><p>
So, now I had all of the raw materials in the works and I just had to finish them and assemble. Hah! The work had just begun!
</p><p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgAI4ilLcsGv8H_Bq9QihHFY0gRk6NXmhH6AjwYWmmMbc7LydvI68UACOjfn18RBsBBkboTp0inZZhIC99YGB7Unp9bTPWQuWoUbtUDGc4um6CFcD4Mbu5hfNgtEPLdSs-kA3Hg3a6T3eu1QTN7eHcFpPkBGEgKVUezmx-avmOT1vMV3mpkP2zmYxWG=s4032" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" hspace="5" vspace="0" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgAI4ilLcsGv8H_Bq9QihHFY0gRk6NXmhH6AjwYWmmMbc7LydvI68UACOjfn18RBsBBkboTp0inZZhIC99YGB7Unp9bTPWQuWoUbtUDGc4um6CFcD4Mbu5hfNgtEPLdSs-kA3Hg3a6T3eu1QTN7eHcFpPkBGEgKVUezmx-avmOT1vMV3mpkP2zmYxWG=s320"/></a></div>I have done some woodworking in the past but I was not prepared for what was to come. But luckily, I had a friend, Scott, who was a master woodworker, and he had a shop full of tools to help me. We first tackled the legs, using an old 1" by 12" section of what appeared to be walnut I had found stuffed away in my garage. We sliced it into 3" wide sections and formed a cross that would be the base for the steel drum, the legs of the cross fitting into slots cut in the drum. Little did I know how much went into the making of what seemed to be a simple cross! Each leg was three walnut sections, glued together. The gluing required a plethora of clamps to hold the boards in place while the glue dried. We spent over a week just gluing the different sections together but, in the end, came up with exactly what we needed to be the legs for the table. As Scott said, you can't ever have too many clamps!
</p><p>
After all was glued and done, we sanded the boards to a smooth sheen and finished them with Total Boat epoxy, giving them several coats. They looked great and I was excited to get going on the trunk slice. But it was not ready for me.
</p><p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhsyunQDk7gzW2pt8BfXXWWW-RBhdN_38TdjVKrvIcp7ocrJio450cWHUBb9wGaEN2VogOK_6zUEiz-S8F1bbDFKvmdUXKopv5xJIet-qQl8VPWnPl7y_l51dPxRazGDwFc4wU5hvlk34ZqeUVUz06AZKr6rNb53eYwB9iDaK_rfF7dqRelOdqHBjds=s4032" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" hspace="5" vspace="0" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhsyunQDk7gzW2pt8BfXXWWW-RBhdN_38TdjVKrvIcp7ocrJio450cWHUBb9wGaEN2VogOK_6zUEiz-S8F1bbDFKvmdUXKopv5xJIet-qQl8VPWnPl7y_l51dPxRazGDwFc4wU5hvlk34ZqeUVUz06AZKr6rNb53eYwB9iDaK_rfF7dqRelOdqHBjds=s320"/></a></div>The tree trunk slab arrived on a pallet, inside a custom box completely sealed with screws. Upon opening the box, the tree slab was found surrounded with thin layers of Styrofoam for protection. Removing these revealed the slab, broken into three pieces. I had expected that there might be one break as the spot where the trunk folded in on itself was partially cut away when the circle was cut from the center of the slab. But there were two other breaks such that the slab was broken into three parts, with each section equal to about one-third of the circle.
</p><p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4JfVv8JpucSW41DjeFeLE7PC1WQFsT1nX1XVVMsgn4ZYY6zcaak48SlGBS6y_JoATRwuRK36SOjEzYd1TIGp6MiorOz0ZlDV5JjhbMeaZG6Ny7jjfHVKE1LyCf18SFfF2B5XwSLTyxbSZMNJTyXeZYQdkyYmc3ouKqgiLcwJ6af48a_L97xyJ56V-=s4032" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" hspace="5" vspace="0" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4JfVv8JpucSW41DjeFeLE7PC1WQFsT1nX1XVVMsgn4ZYY6zcaak48SlGBS6y_JoATRwuRK36SOjEzYd1TIGp6MiorOz0ZlDV5JjhbMeaZG6Ny7jjfHVKE1LyCf18SFfF2B5XwSLTyxbSZMNJTyXeZYQdkyYmc3ouKqgiLcwJ6af48a_L97xyJ56V-=s320"/></a></div>Well, even though this was unexpected, I thought "we should be able to glue this together with some epoxy." Scott and I, with our clamps in hand, worked to figure out a way to hold the pieces together as we painted a coat of epoxy between the first two pieces. Once these glued and dried completely, a couple of days, we added the third piece and before we knew it, the circle was complete again. Surprisingly, the glue job came out very clean and we were impressed with our work.
</p><p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjg5rnDcEFDeiUTj6MyXqpK9Fh40StfeVHCzbbqzt2hv505JDniUbvHLyYToc_CWkA4ahGEhCwUhZen9jBnpiRt7HabcsugbTDhBdd54KogWEEUe8r0rVYZHvAKwcLFbdpXN4XDSqKeNK0nmklBXrnrYQ_y3qVcaMAiK6lsbkFtByocym-y8dPK8u3x=s3700" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" hspace="5" vspace="0" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="2982" data-original-width="3700" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjg5rnDcEFDeiUTj6MyXqpK9Fh40StfeVHCzbbqzt2hv505JDniUbvHLyYToc_CWkA4ahGEhCwUhZen9jBnpiRt7HabcsugbTDhBdd54KogWEEUe8r0rVYZHvAKwcLFbdpXN4XDSqKeNK0nmklBXrnrYQ_y3qVcaMAiK6lsbkFtByocym-y8dPK8u3x=s320"/></a></div>Now that the base, legs, table top and porthole were all there, we did a sample fit - and it all went together as planned! So, we knew that the table was going to go together and what was yet to do would get us there. Remaining work was to polish the porthole, sand and epoxy the tree ring, touch up the steelwork and assemble. Yeah, that's all. But it would take another month or two to get that all done.
</p><p>
So, the first thing to do was epoxy the trunk and, as suggested by Scott, to add a supporting piece of plywood under the ring to give the tabletop an extra measure of strength. So, I cut a shaped piece of 1/4" plywood to fit the bottom of the tree trunk and sanded the bottom and the plywood with several different grits of paper in succession - 60, 120, 220, 320, 400 and 600 grit. I then applied epoxy on each and using screws, connected the plywood to the tree.
</p><p>
After applying several coats of epoxy, with more sanding in between, I called the bottom done and turned the trunk over and was ready to start work on the top. This is where another problem reared its ugly head. Once epoxied, the wood turns very dark and no grain is visible, a most unappealing and unwanted result. This was ok on the bottom but certainly NOT what was required on the table top.
</p><p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjOblIgHObKunAVaLHlO4CF5DEp7pqqGXT7P6WPGXxh_XA5jBnjoH9FrB23ZXvgjpbFSz5pzVoU2agYtrGR5oAFctPBuTjGVYbSxiZjaNQF0UlAy8aW3FxQUIlxkIetaJCkiTh-1ULyIRythBqLZTJwcaugnfVUyhV_G-WHvOBcUyFPEIoloZh8S41v=s3603" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" hspace="5" vspace="0" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="2968" data-original-width="3603" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjOblIgHObKunAVaLHlO4CF5DEp7pqqGXT7P6WPGXxh_XA5jBnjoH9FrB23ZXvgjpbFSz5pzVoU2agYtrGR5oAFctPBuTjGVYbSxiZjaNQF0UlAy8aW3FxQUIlxkIetaJCkiTh-1ULyIRythBqLZTJwcaugnfVUyhV_G-WHvOBcUyFPEIoloZh8S41v=s320"/></a></div>I thought, oh no how am I going to lighten the wood to bring out the grain? I did some research (the Internet is not all bad!) and found that I could bleach the wood with a mixture of Lye (NaOH 8%) and Hydrogen Peroxide (H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> 27%) in equal parts. It was easier said than done to find these ingredients but once I found them, I was good to go. I applied this to the table top 3 times with sanding in between each application (remember the 6 progressive grades of sandpaper used each time) to lighten the wood to what I hoped would be the perfect shade after I coated the slab with 4 coats of the epoxy.
</p><p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjnKTzU5QTGU3l5kkdFlxGWLRviAYT6tAKfIhqUwhKZnhRErCBwyuzdVx-8h4VG3e1IYPKj0aSesFfvQ8Hn9w7Al2hCLkyGwEPy8PWqyOJHGPgaHQ_Y0YK-9iBDLi9o9wIS_VUgKW5FdK6slhnrX-mxjz65jmuMZtMscZkx72Z8Rb1zCl_UCXnye5RI=s4032" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" hspace="5" vspace="0" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjnKTzU5QTGU3l5kkdFlxGWLRviAYT6tAKfIhqUwhKZnhRErCBwyuzdVx-8h4VG3e1IYPKj0aSesFfvQ8Hn9w7Al2hCLkyGwEPy8PWqyOJHGPgaHQ_Y0YK-9iBDLi9o9wIS_VUgKW5FdK6slhnrX-mxjz65jmuMZtMscZkx72Z8Rb1zCl_UCXnye5RI=s320"/></a></div>Now I proceeded to sand, then epoxy, then sand, and then epoxy until I had four coats. The sandings each took a day, remember the 6 grit levels each time. Then the epoxy coats each took two days as I could brush on the coat but needed to wait two days for it to dry completely, at least that is how I did it. I also did not work on it every day so in total it took about two weeks to finish the four coats. Finally, I had to buff it to the desired finish after the last coat.
</p><p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOC7zTd_5F1wdtpYpM25_yEphKJ_YeVKYuynbbWH-8D7yW3CITDTCk01HJer4iWkkeeM_QOlAcH2F4J15KuQPz473HEiSBm4Lt5ZyTII5bWWVDFPdbmOSY7E9K-hO9UskVmxGutlw63_0Y_9W9DPFR_32B8V51PMcuAE-W6aPIVZpa_DgFHoYJNEiA=s3397" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" hspace="5" vspace="0" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="1834" data-original-width="3397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOC7zTd_5F1wdtpYpM25_yEphKJ_YeVKYuynbbWH-8D7yW3CITDTCk01HJer4iWkkeeM_QOlAcH2F4J15KuQPz473HEiSBm4Lt5ZyTII5bWWVDFPdbmOSY7E9K-hO9UskVmxGutlw63_0Y_9W9DPFR_32B8V51PMcuAE-W6aPIVZpa_DgFHoYJNEiA=s320"/></a></div>Now that all the different parts were ready, I was finally able to assemble the table. The legs bolted onto the drum which supported the table top. The porthole required the installation of 19 threaded inserts for the brass bolts that anchored the porthole base to the table. All this took a few days as well since I needed to screw the table top to the steel drum, add the connections for power for the lights inside and for the USB charger ports.
</p><p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggIi9e8I_HmCFo7FOa1pzQL1Kp4_VMIwIX5RJoNMsmoNA4DVlaNftbcE-j4cX0baE3qdNO6e94U0q5yCz6QOmynQkZlkwZ338VQj1N_4vB05Z7ZCVgbn9S0QcfMzbfX7Gym53IuqyWIVDvMpm6gQDJqokYIY9Tth1l0BuiFxN2hpoEtghZWxgwhVuX=s4032" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" hspace="5" vspace="0" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggIi9e8I_HmCFo7FOa1pzQL1Kp4_VMIwIX5RJoNMsmoNA4DVlaNftbcE-j4cX0baE3qdNO6e94U0q5yCz6QOmynQkZlkwZ338VQj1N_4vB05Z7ZCVgbn9S0QcfMzbfX7Gym53IuqyWIVDvMpm6gQDJqokYIY9Tth1l0BuiFxN2hpoEtghZWxgwhVuX=s320"/></a></div>Once the table was all put together (except for the porthole window, it was added after as it was very heavy) I asked my youngest son to come over and help me bring it inside as there was no way I could do it by myself. We wheeled it to the front door, lifted it over the threshold and down into the family room and rolled it into place. Once it was inside and all set up, Cathy said she loved it there so it is now the center of attention in front of the fireplace.
</p><p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWmJMwUSGu-P4QT34LxTR9qTurXs1nhDpNLUN5GS7_GQBcnF1RQQNTHNfPxt7CYHAyeqVhCvMPlQBTFoUbnKXw3N76P-q7bNsx40L5tZ0Yva8TduPlsPDP5Gre3kotwnk2TIrVwISHcYfJdpmux4CPec3Z8WYDWAjJBKU1r1wrqJ_FBgFxgcMSQS7M=s4025" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" hspace="5" vspace="0" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="2806" data-original-width="4025" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiWmJMwUSGu-P4QT34LxTR9qTurXs1nhDpNLUN5GS7_GQBcnF1RQQNTHNfPxt7CYHAyeqVhCvMPlQBTFoUbnKXw3N76P-q7bNsx40L5tZ0Yva8TduPlsPDP5Gre3kotwnk2TIrVwISHcYfJdpmux4CPec3Z8WYDWAjJBKU1r1wrqJ_FBgFxgcMSQS7M=s320"/></a></div>I am not sure if I will do anything like it again but I get excited every time I come into the room and see it glowing lightly (added some LEDs inside that glow out the frosted window of the porthole and through the bottom of the drum). Or when someone new comes by and sees it for the first time, I appreciate their kind words of praise for how beautiful it turned out. So, no matter what I do in the future, I suspect that this will be my <b><i>Magnum Opus</i></b>.
</p><p>
</p><p>
</p><p>
</p><p>
</p><p>
<!--
References
https://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/9711592.foundrys-titanic-links/
<hr width="90%" />
<div style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 115%;"><b>Each of Us has Something Great within Us</b></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 115%;"><b>Just Waiting to be Released</b></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 115%;"><b>In God's Perfect Timing</b></span><br>
</div>
<hr width="90%" />
<div style="margin: 15px"><a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/amo/5/8/t_conc_884008">Amos 5:8b (NIV)</a> - He ...who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out over the face of the land — the LORD is his name.
</div>
</p><p>
<a title="" href=""><img width="384" hspace="5" vspace="5" align="right" alt="" src=""></a>
</p><p>
Next up:
</p><p>
<div style="margin: 15px">
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/ecc/1/7/s_660007">Ecclesiastes 1:7 (NIV)</a> - All the rivers flow into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, there they flow again.
</div>
</p><p>
-->God's Chemistry Sethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395978295675996565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3751368798332947932.post-79241864428107702062021-07-21T20:13:00.000-07:002021-07-21T20:13:18.550-07:00The Bible Scientific - Ecclesiastes 1:7<p>
"The Bible Scientific" is my current blog series. Each post will examine a verse or two directly from Scripture and try to explain that Biblical quote from a scientific perspective.
</p><p>
<img width="240" hspace="5" vspace="5" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxcOOhh0eKMXFuoTB1HM1qS6RygAU6G1PIt42DcdnyxajQKShuI-EZThy0ReymJtAf6BBw3NTNSmgLAbKHH1UDjTGh05O6M5EoxLjIgu-1kLE-mGa2T8GQtsmRqdSY71peBTgfiiXFPM/s1600/Bible-Scientific.png">
</p><p>
It is often stated that the Bible and Science are not compatible, that the Bible is not a scientific text and that you can not believe the Bible and also believe science. I think this is short sighted as there are a number of places in Scripture where scientific facts were stated even before man understood them. The Bible is not a scientific text in that it is not meant to be the full explanation of scientific fact, but it does direct us to understand the nature of God scientifically as well as spiritually. It complements science. God uses His Word to help us understand Him and His creation with our mind, soul and spirit.
</p><p>
Galileo Galilei said:
<div style="margin: 15px">
"The prohibition of science would be contrary to the Bible, which in hundreds of places teaches us how the greatness and the glory of God shine forth marvelously in all His works, and is to be read above all in the open book of the heavens."
</div>
</p><p>
<center>=======================================================================</center>
</p><p>
In this post we will look at Ecclesiastes and Isaiah where they discuss the Water Cycle.
</p><p>
<div style="margin: 15px"><a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/ecc/1/7/s_660007">Ecclesiastes 1:7 (NIV)</a> - All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams come from, there they return again.
</div>
</p><p>
<div style="margin: 15px"><a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/isa/55/10/s_734010">Isaiah 55:10 (NIV)</a> – As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater.
</div>
</p><p>
These two verses suggest the flow of water from the sea to the sky to the rain, them back to the land and into the sea again. This is the fundamental principle of the Water Cycle or Hydrological Cycle. Without this process, life here would be impossible.
</p><p>
The water cycle describes how water <b>evaporates</b> from the surface of the earth and rises into the atmosphere, where it cools and <b>condenses</b> into rain or snow, forming clouds and eventually falling to the earth as <b>precipitation</b>. The falling water <b>collects</b> directly into the ocean or in rivers and lakes, the soil, and porous rock layers. From here it flows back into the ocean, and once again evaporates to complete the cycle.
</p><p>
There are many descriptions of the water cycle, with 4, 5, 7 or more steps in the cycle. Most start with some variation of these four main stages and expand each stage into more and more detailed components. All descriptions contain, in some form, these four steps of evaporation, condensation, precipitation and collection.
</p><p>
Let's look at each of these stages:
</p><p>
<div style="margin: 15px">
<b>Evaporation:</b> The heat from the sun causes the liquid water in the oceans, lakes, streams, and soils to turn into water vapor (a gas) and rise into the atmosphere.
</p><p>
<b>Condensation:</b> As the air cools down, the water vapor turns back into liquid water and coalesces to make clouds.
</p><p>
<b>Precipitation:</b> The water in the clouds then form into droplets of rain, snow, hail or sleet (as a liquid or solid - water or ice) and falls from the clouds in the sky.
</p><p>
<b>Collection:</b> Some of the falling water (as a liquid or solid) collects in the oceans, rivers, lakes, and streams. Most will infiltrate (soak into) the ground and will collect as underground water, which eventually finds its way back to the ocean.
</div>
</p><p>
The water cycle is powered by the sun's energy and by gravity. The sun kick starts the whole cycle by heating all the Earth's water and making some of it evaporate. Gravity makes the moisture fall back to Earth.
</p><p>
<hr width="90%" />
<div style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 115%;"><b>He ...who calls for the waters of the sea</b></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 115%;"><b>and pours them out over the face of the land</b></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 115%;"><b>— the LORD is his name. <font color="#aa0114">- Amos 5:8b (NIV)</font></b></span><br>
</div>
<hr width="90%" />
</p><p>
<a title="Ehud Tal / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Diagram_of_the_Water_Cycle.jpg"><img hspace="10" vspace="5" align="left" width="544" alt="Diagram of the Water Cycle" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/Diagram_of_the_Water_Cycle.jpg/512px-Diagram_of_the_Water_Cycle.jpg"></a>
</p><p>
<br>
</p><p>
As you can see from this diagram, the cycle is much more complex than the simple description above of the four steps. In the first step, water rises into the atmosphere, leaving behind any accumulated minerals or other substances which can leave nutrients for plants and animals living on the land or in the sea. This also purifies the water so it can start the process clean.
</p><p>
As the water condenses into clouds, the clouds impact the weather in their location, possibly cooling the land or stirring up winds that will blow the clouds over the land from the ocean, further impacting the weather and affecting the type and chances of precipitation that may occur.
</p><p>
If the clouds move over higher elevations, the precipitation may come as snow which now covers the land with a very reflective surface which can reduce temperatures in the local area by reflecting back the sunlight. The snow and ice can also accumulate to form a water storehouse, later to melt and water the lowlands surrounding the snow pack. This collected water then extends the potential growing seasons for plant life and allowing life to flourish even when there is not continuous precipitation to provide regular waterings.
</p><p>
In the crucible of scientific investigation, the Bible has proven invariably to be correct. No other book, ancient or modern, can make this claim; but then, no other book has been written (through men) by God. From: <a href="https://reasons.org/explore/publications/tnrtb/read/tnrtb/1976/01/01/biblical-forecasts-of-scientific-discoveries">Reasons to Believe</a>.
</p><p>
I think as we learn more through scientific study and examination, if we are reasonable and open, we will see the hand of God at work.
</p><p>
Next up:
</p><p>
<div style="margin: 15px">
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/psa/139/13/s_617013">Psalm 139: 13-16</a> - For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. <sup>14</sup> I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. <sup>15</sup> My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. <sup>16</sup> Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
</div>
</p><p>
<!--
<div style="margin: 15px"><a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/amo/5/8/t_conc_884008">Amos 5:8b (NIV)</a> - He ...who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out over the face of the land — the LORD is his name.
</div>
<a title="NASA, ESA and AURA/Caltech / Public domain" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:M45map.jpg"><img width="384" hspace="5" vspace="5" align="right" alt="M45map" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e1/M45map.jpg"></a>
</p><p>
Next up:
</p><p>
<div style="margin: 15px">
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/ecc/1/7/s_660007">Ecclesiastes 1:7 (NIV)</a> - All the rivers flow into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, there they flow again.
</div>
</p><p>
-->
God's Chemistry Sethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395978295675996565noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3751368798332947932.post-49179332880802200962020-09-17T19:50:00.002-07:002020-11-12T18:27:27.327-08:00Now in eBook Form - The Minerals of Revelation<p>
<img width="255" hspace="8" vspace="8" align="left" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/ACtC-3fjmasvnkp5tGqDsecrGXlMg7FX4fjfq_ZtU4y0GBnxdoTZUcynC2SoGt1tXMSb83IO6yYHSZve7JNFwjFqNpXAbKi3nDzKbcMfd1C7upDGdHxq392SSGUxbtoKN24hZvloOhQU-jyFthvoWatxPJVQ=w375-h500-no?authuser=0">The most searched blogs, by far, here on God's Chemistry Set are those dealing with "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Minerals-Revelation-Gods-Chemistry-Set-ebook/dp/B08GJBM2MZ/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=the+minerals+of+revelation&qid=1600395845&rnid=2941120011&s=books&sr=1-2">The Minerals of Revelation</a>," a set of 14 blog entries covering the twelve stones used in the twelve foundations of the New Jerusalem, as outlined in the Book of Revelation, Chapter 21, verses 19 & 20.
</p>
<p>
Because so many readers look to these works, I have put them all together in one place as an eBook, now available on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Minerals-Revelation-Gods-Chemistry-Set-ebook/dp/B08GJBM2MZ/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=the+minerals+of+revelation&qid=1600395845&rnid=2941120011&s=books&sr=1-2">Amazon</a>.
</p>
<p>
These blogs review, one by one and in order, each of the twelve stones in the foundation of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:19-20). I discuss the stone, and possible other stones that could be represented, and look at its meaning and the connection to the twelve tribes of Jacob (breastplate of the high priest from Exodus 28:15-30 and Exodus 39:8-21) and to the twelve Apostles. I hope you find this information interesting and that it helps stimulate your own study of the Word of God.
</p>
<p>
The eBook also includes two additional, widely viewed blogs - "Atomic Glue - The Force That Holds the Atom Together" and "As Iron Sharpens Iron."
</p>
<p>
Please take a look and if you purchase the eBook I would appreciate a review.
</p>
<p>
Thanks
</p>
<p>God's Chemistry Sethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395978295675996565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3751368798332947932.post-80199236880280554152020-08-18T17:50:00.000-07:002020-08-18T17:50:09.719-07:00The Bible Scientific - Job 26:7<p>
"The Bible Scientific" is my current blog series. Each post will examine a verse or two directly from Scripture and try to explain that Biblical quote from a scientific perspective.
</p><p>
<img width="255" hspace="5" vspace="5" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxcOOhh0eKMXFuoTB1HM1qS6RygAU6G1PIt42DcdnyxajQKShuI-EZThy0ReymJtAf6BBw3NTNSmgLAbKHH1UDjTGh05O6M5EoxLjIgu-1kLE-mGa2T8GQtsmRqdSY71peBTgfiiXFPM/s1600/Bible-Scientific.png">
</p><p>
It is often stated that the Bible and Science are not compatible, that the Bible is not a scientific text and that you can not believe the Bible and also believe science. I think this is short sighted as there are a number of places in Scripture where scientific facts were stated even before man understood them. The Bible is not a scientific text in that it is not meant to be the full explanation of scientific fact, but it does direct us to understand the nature of God scientifically as well as spiritually. It complements science. God uses His Word to help us understand Him and His creation with our mind, soul and spirit.
</p><p>
Galileo Galilei said:
<div style="margin: 15px">
"The prohibition of science would be contrary to the Bible, which in hundreds of places teaches us how the greatness and the glory of God shine forth marvelously in all His works, and is to be read above all in the open book of the heavens."
</div>
</p><p>
<center>=======================================================================</center>
</p><p>
Returning to Job we will consider verse 26:7 (NIV):
</p><p>
<div style="margin: 15px">
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/job/26/7/s_462007">Job 26:7 (NIV)</a> - He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing.
</div>
</p><p>
Another scripture to look at in connection with Job 26:7 is this one:
</p><p>
<div style="margin: 15px">
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/job/38/31/s_474031">Job 38:31-33 (NIV)</a> – Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades, or loose the cords of Orion? Can you lead forth a constellation in its season, and guide the Bear with her satellites? Do you know the ordinances of the heavens, or fix their rule over the earth?
</div>
</p><p>
These sections of Scripture discuss gravity and the "empty space" that fills the void between the stars. Gravity holds the planets up on seemingly nothing. The Sun “rules” over the Earth (holds it in an orbit). Scientifically, we know that gravity is one of, and the weakest of, the four fundamental forces. It causes any two bodies to be attracted to each other, with the force proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.
</p><p>
Gravity caused the original gaseous matter present in the Universe to begin to coalesce and form stars and caused the stars to group together into galaxies. It did the same to form planets. Gravity is the force by which all things with mass or energy are brought together. Gravity gives weight to things on Earth and the Moon's gravity helps form the tides we see on Earth. It even holds the atmosphere around the Earth that otherwise would be torn away by the Solar wind.
</p><p>
The most extreme example of gravity is a Black Hole, from which nothing—not even light—can escape once it passes the Black Hole's event horizon.
</p><p>
The Pleiades and Orion are the only two constellations where the stars in them are bound by gravity to one another so they move as a unit (they are in the same galactic location). Other constellations appear together but some of the stars are much further away from us and only look close due to our angle of view. Stars are constantly moving relative to one another, as is the Earth, the Moon and any planet circling a star.
</p><p>
Because of the vast distances within the Universe, the stars seem to stay in one place but over extremely long periods of time (thousands to millions of years) they will gradually move apart - the constellations will change shape. The constellations that are not within a single galactic location will retain their appearance for a much shorter time as the stars within them will be moving independent of one another.
</p><p>
<hr width="90%" />
<div style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 115%;"><b>When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,</b></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 115%;"><b>the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,</b></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 115%;"><b>what is mankind that you are mindful of them,</b></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 115%;"><b>human beings that you care for them? - <font color="#aa0114">Psalms 8:3-4 (NIV)</font></b></span><br>
</div>
<hr width="90%" />
</p><p>
<a title="NASA, ESA and AURA/Caltech / Public domain" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:M45map.jpg"><img width="384" hspace="5" vspace="5" align="right" alt="M45map" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e1/M45map.jpg"></a>
</p><p>
</p><p>
The Pleiades is among the star clusters nearest to Earth and is the cluster most obvious to the naked eye in the night sky.
</p><p>
Orion is a prominent constellation located on the celestial equator and is visible throughout the world. Along with the Pleiades, Orion is one of the most conspicuous and recognizable star systems visible with the naked eye. Orion is also useful as an aid to locating other stars. Its seven brightest stars form a distinctive hourglass-shaped pattern that points towards other visible stars, such as Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky. Sirius is a binary star (Sirius A and B) and is also one of our nearest neighbors in the Milky Way.
</p><p>
</p><p>
<div style="margin: 15px"><a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/amo/5/8/t_conc_884008">Amos 5:8 (NIV)</a> - He who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns midnight into dawn and darkens day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out over the face of the land— the LORD is his name.
</div>
</p><p>
Next up:
</p><p>
<div style="margin: 15px">
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/ecc/1/7/s_660007">Ecclesiastes 1:7 (NIV)</a> - All the rivers flow into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, there they flow again.
</div>
</p><p>
</p>
<!---
---!>
God's Chemistry Sethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395978295675996565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3751368798332947932.post-7659042676029212752020-06-23T16:40:00.000-07:002020-07-02T20:21:36.647-07:00The Bible Scientific - Leviticus 13:45-46<p>
"The Bible Scientific" is my current blog series. Each post will examine a verse or two directly from Scripture and try to explain that Biblical quote from a scientific perspective.
</p><p>
<img width="255" hspace="5" vspace="5" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxcOOhh0eKMXFuoTB1HM1qS6RygAU6G1PIt42DcdnyxajQKShuI-EZThy0ReymJtAf6BBw3NTNSmgLAbKHH1UDjTGh05O6M5EoxLjIgu-1kLE-mGa2T8GQtsmRqdSY71peBTgfiiXFPM/s1600/Bible-Scientific.png">
</p><p>
It is often stated that the Bible and Science are not compatible, that the Bible is not a scientific text and that you can not believe the Bible and also believe science. I think this is short sighted as there are a number of places in Scripture where scientific facts were stated even before man understood them. The Bible is not a scientific text in that it is not meant to be the full explanation of scientific fact, but it does direct us to understand the nature of God scientifically as well as spiritually. It complements science. God uses His Word to help us understand Him and His creation with our mind, soul and spirit.
</p><p>
Galileo Galilei said:
<div style="margin: 15px">
"The prohibition of science would be contrary to the Bible, which in hundreds of places teaches us how the greatness and the glory of God shine forth marvelously in all His works, and is to be read above all in the open book of the heavens."
</div>
</p><p>
<center>=======================================================================</center>
</p><p>
Now we move into Leviticus, the book of the Law:
</p><p>
<div style="margin: 15px">
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/lev/13/45/s_103045">Leviticus 13:45-46 (NIV)</a> – “Anyone with such a defiling disease must wear torn clothes, let their hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of their face and cry out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ As long as they have the disease they remain unclean. They must live alone; they must live outside the camp."
</div>
</p><p>
This section of Scripture speaks to the control of disease, using quarantines when there was no cure and the disease in question appeared to be contagious. This is talking mostly about the ostracism of the incurable (lepers) in the desert where the Jews spent 40 years wandering until all who left Egypt had died (except two) and the LORD then led them into the promised land.
</p><p>
Does this sound familiar, in these days of COVID-19 and the corona virus? Social distancing, wearing masks, being "clean" (washing our hands and the surfaces we touch). Being asked (or told) not to leave our homes?
</p><p>
One thing is different, however, the Jews quarantined the person who was infected and it was incumbent on that person to tell everyone to stay away by shouting "Unclean!" Today everyone is encouraged to stay at home because we can not tell who is infected. Only those with symptoms, or a positive test, must be quarantined but everyone (sick or not) must wear a mask and stay six feet apart instead of shouting Unclean!
</p><p>
<hr width="90%" />
<div style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 115%;"><b>So that you can distinguish between the holy and the common,</b></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 115%;"><b>between the unclean and the clean,</b></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 115%;"><b> - <font color="#aa0114">Leviticus 10:10 (NIV)</font></b></span><br>
</div>
<hr width="90%" />
</p><p>
Leprosy is a mildly contagious skin disease which had no cure at that time. It is a long-term infection by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae. It can sometimes take up to 20 years to develop. Infections can lead to damage of the nerves, respiratory tract, skin, and eyes. The nerve damage creates a lack of pain sensation, which can result in damage to and loss of a person's extremities from repeated injuries or further infection of unnoticed wounds. Transmission of leprosy occurs during close contact with those who are infected.
</p><p>
<a title="B.jehle / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Leprosy_deformities_hands.jpg"><img width="216" hspace="5" vspace="5" align="left" alt="Leprosy deformities hands" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/Leprosy_deformities_hands.jpg/256px-Leprosy_deformities_hands.jpg"></a>
</p><p>
Although Leprosy is only mildly contagious, it created a stigma for those with the disease and others were fearful of contracting it. So in following the advice of this verse, the Jews would quarantine those with leprosy outside of the camp to prevent the spreading of the disease. Here we see God directing his people to follow medical practices against a disease even though they knew nothing about how or why people got the disease.
</p><p>
People with the disease were required to cover their mouth (wear a mask). The transmission of leprosy is not well understood, but the upper respiratory tract is thought to be the most likely route of infection. They also had to be confined to specific areas to live so as not to infect otherwise healthy people.
</p><p>
<div style="margin: 15px"><a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/psa/52/8/s_530008">Psalm 52:8 (NIV)</a> - But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever.
</div>
</p><p>
God did not take away the suffering and stigma of the disease but he provided his people with a way to deal with the struggle. We need to learn that we will not be free of pain and suffering in this life but God is always with us, nonetheless.
</p><p>
Next up:
</p><p>
<div style="margin: 15px">
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/job/26/7/s_462007">Job 26:7</a> - He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing.
</div>
</p><p>
</p>
God's Chemistry Sethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395978295675996565noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3751368798332947932.post-30665188950585916252020-04-08T18:02:00.001-07:002020-04-08T18:02:12.427-07:00The Bible Scientific - Isaiah 40:22<p>
"The Bible Scientific" is my current blog series. Each post will examine a verse or two directly from Scripture and try to explain that Biblical quote from a scientific perspective.
</p><p>
<img width="255" hspace="5" vspace="5" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxcOOhh0eKMXFuoTB1HM1qS6RygAU6G1PIt42DcdnyxajQKShuI-EZThy0ReymJtAf6BBw3NTNSmgLAbKHH1UDjTGh05O6M5EoxLjIgu-1kLE-mGa2T8GQtsmRqdSY71peBTgfiiXFPM/s1600/Bible-Scientific.png">
</p><p>
It is often stated that the Bible and Science are not compatible, that the Bible is not a scientific text and that you can not believe the Bible and also believe science. I think this is short sighted as there are a number of places in Scripture where scientific facts were stated even before man understood them. The Bible is not a scientific text in that it is not meant to be the full explanation of scientific fact, but it does direct us to understand the nature of God scientifically as well as spiritually. It complements science. God uses His Word to help us understand Him and His creation with our mind, soul and spirit.
</p><p>
Galileo Galilei said:
<div style="margin: 15px">
"The prohibition of science would be contrary to the Bible, which in hundreds of places teaches us how the greatness and the glory of God shine forth marvelously in all His works, and is to be read above all in the open book of the heavens."
</div>
</p><p>
<center>=======================================================================</center>
</p><p>
Moving on to Isaiah to look at the Earth.
</p><p>
<div style="margin: 15px">
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/isa/40/22/s_719022">Isaiah 40:22 (NIV)</a> – 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.
</div>
</p><p>
This verse has two parts but today we will just consider the first part - "He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers."
</p><p>
We have discussed the second part already, that the heavens are stretched out like a tent, most notably in <a href="https://godschemistryset.blogspot.com/2019/03/the-bible-scientific-psalm-1042.html">Psalm 104:2</a>
</p><p>
<hr width="90%" />
<div style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 115%;"><b>I could not do anything great or small</b></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 115%;"><b>to go beyond the command of the LORD my God.</b></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 105%;"><b> - <font color="#aa0114">Numbers 18:22b (NIV)</font></b></span><br>
</div>
<hr width="90%" />
</p><p>
</p><p>
Even this first part can be divided into two. The first half talks of God existing in the heavens (above the earth, inside and outside of the universe), and the second part - "its people are like grasshoppers." - pointing to the vastness of space and the majesty of God, as well as the smallness of man and his numbers.
</p><p>
</p><p>
<a title="Bill Anders
/ Public domain" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:NASA-Apollo8-Dec24-Earthrise.jpg"><img width="216" hspace="5" vspace="5" align="left" alt="NASA-Apollo8-Dec24-Earthrise" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a8/NASA-Apollo8-Dec24-Earthrise.jpg/512px-NASA-Apollo8-Dec24-Earthrise.jpg"></a>
</p><p>
This verse proclaims the Earth as round (a sphere) as opposed to flat. The Hebrew word "chuwg" means circle or sphere. The timing of the authorship of this verse is between the 6th and 8th centuries BC whereas the scientific proclamation that the earth is a sphere was not until the 3rd century BC, although it was thought to possibly be a sphere dating from the 6th century BC.
</p><p>
Another verse also points to the earth as a sphere:
</p><p>
<div style="margin: 15px">
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/job/26/10/s_462010">Job 26:10 (NIV)</a> - He marks out the horizon on the face of the waters for a boundary between light and darkness.
</div>
</p><p>
Now lets look at the second part of this verse, "its people are like grasshoppers." This part looks at the insignificance of man in comparison to God. But we know that despite the seeming insignificance of man, God loves us and created us for a purpose. We see this in Romans.
</p><p>
<div style="margin: 15px">
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/rom/8/39/s_1054039">Romans 8:39 (NIV)</a> - Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the <b>love of God</b> that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
</div>
</p><p>
Thank you LORD for loving us!
</p><p>
Next up:
</p><p>
<div style="margin: 15px">
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/lev/13/45/s_103045">Leviticus 13:45-46 (NIV)</a> - “Anyone with such a defiling disease must wear torn clothes, let their hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of their face and cry out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ As long as they have the disease they remain unclean. They must live alone; they must live outside the camp.
</div>
</p><p>
God's Chemistry Sethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395978295675996565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3751368798332947932.post-35120251834375058132019-05-04T16:41:00.000-07:002019-05-04T16:41:56.975-07:00The Bible Scientific - Hebrews 1:10-12<p>
"The Bible Scientific" is my current blog series. Each post will examine a verse or two directly from Scripture and try to explain that Biblical quote from a scientific perspective.
</p><p>
<img width="255" hspace="5" vspace="5" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxcOOhh0eKMXFuoTB1HM1qS6RygAU6G1PIt42DcdnyxajQKShuI-EZThy0ReymJtAf6BBw3NTNSmgLAbKHH1UDjTGh05O6M5EoxLjIgu-1kLE-mGa2T8GQtsmRqdSY71peBTgfiiXFPM/s1600/Bible-Scientific.png">
</p><p>
It is often stated that the Bible and Science are not compatible, that the Bible is not a scientific text and that you can not believe the Bible and also believe science. I think this is short sighted as there are a number of places in Scripture where scientific facts were stated even before man understood them. The Bible is not a scientific text in that it is not meant to be the full explanation of scientific fact, but it does direct us to understand the nature of God scientifically as well as spiritually. It complements science. God uses His Word to help us understand Him and His creation with our mind, soul and spirit.
</p><p>
Galileo Galilei said:
<div style="margin: 15px">
"The prohibition of science would be contrary to the Bible, which in hundreds of places teaches us how the greatness and the glory of God shine forth marvelously in all His works, and is to be read above all in the open book of the heavens."
</div>
</p><p>
<center>=======================================================================</center>
</p><p>
Today we will examine Hebrews 1:10-12:
</p><p>
<div style="margin: 15px">
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/heb/1/10/s_1134010">Hebrews 1:10-12 (NIV)</a> - He also says, “In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. <sup>11</sup>They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. <sup>12</sup>You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.”
</div>
</p><p>
Each verse points to one part of a bigger theme, that the universe is temporary but God is eternal. The first two verses reference scientific thought - the Big Bang and the death of the universe. We looked at the Big Bang when discussing <a href="blog TBS-Gen1:1">Genesis 1:1</a>. This is the current scientific theory for the formation of the universe.
</p><p>
The end of the universe is not so well defined scientifically.
</p><p>
There is scientific support for a number of possibilities. The Big Crunch - a Big Bang in reverse - is one such scenario. It requires the mass of the universe and gravity to be just so, such that the expansion of the universe stops and everything collapses back on itself. Similar to this is the Big Bounce where the universe expands from the Big Crunch and a new universe is formed, possibly repeating endlessly.
</p><p>
<hr width="90%" />
<div style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 105%;"><b>In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth,</b></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 105%;"><b>And the heavens are the work of your hands.</b></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 105%;"><b>They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. </b></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 105%;"><b>Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded.</b></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 105%;"><b>But you remain the same, and your years will never end. - <font color="#aa0114">Psalm 102:25-27</font></b></span><br>
</div>
<hr width="90%" />
</p><p>
Current science suggests a universe that is flat and infinite - it goes on expanding forever. This possibility eliminates the Big Crunch/Big Bounce. We discussed this in the last blog (<a href="TBS-Ps104">Psalm 104:2</a>). If this is true, then the universe will not just fall back on itself but will continue to expand forever. At some point it will reach a state of maximum entropy, a heat death, with the universe cooling to approach equilibrium at a very low temperature over a very long time period.
</p><p>
Essentially the universe will "wear out" (as mentioned in <a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/heb/1/11/s_1134011">verse 11</a>) and approach a state where all energy is evenly distributed. The mechanical movement of the universe will run down as work is converted to heat because of the second law of thermodynamics. This heat death of the universe is a possible fate in which the universe has evolved to a state of no thermodynamic free energy and therefore can no longer sustain processes that increase entropy.
</p><p>
<img width="255" hspace="5" vspace="5" align="right" src="https://www.nasa.gov/images/content/56197main_dark_schematic-lg.jpg"><a href="https://www.nasa.gov/images/content/56197main_dark_schematic-lg.jpg">Image courtesy of NASA/STScI/Ann Feild.</a>
</p><p>
In this case the stars will all burn up and out, life will be impossible and the physical structure of the universe will become a soup of elemental particles. Much like wearing out like a garment!
</p><p>
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/heb/1/12/s_1134012">Verse 12</a> also seems to mention these possibilities - the rolling up of the universe and the changing of the universe like the changing of a garment. This implies that God could create a new universe. But the main point in verse 12 is that God will always exist and is unchanging. This is inherent in His nature. And although this cannot be proved/tested scientifically, it is required as part of who God is.
</p><p>
The Bible teaches that someday this universe will come to an end and be replaced by a “new heavens and a new earth.” Science is now learning that at some future time, the stars will all burn out and the universe will end. For the earth and the sun, that has been calculated to be about 2 billion years from now. But life as we know it will cease much sooner than that as the sun expands to become a Red Giant star, engulfing the earth within in it.
</p><p>
We will look to Isaiah next:
</p><p>
<div style="margin: 15px">
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/isa/40/22/s_719022">Isaiah 40:22 (NIV)</a> - 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.
</div>
</p>
God's Chemistry Sethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395978295675996565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3751368798332947932.post-64058124333035123912019-03-14T21:13:00.000-07:002019-03-14T21:13:45.108-07:00The Bible Scientific - Psalm 104:2<p>
"The Bible Scientific" is my current blog series. Each post will examine a verse or two directly from Scripture and try to explain that Biblical quote from a scientific perspective.
</p><p>
<img width="255" hspace="5" vspace="5" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxcOOhh0eKMXFuoTB1HM1qS6RygAU6G1PIt42DcdnyxajQKShuI-EZThy0ReymJtAf6BBw3NTNSmgLAbKHH1UDjTGh05O6M5EoxLjIgu-1kLE-mGa2T8GQtsmRqdSY71peBTgfiiXFPM/s1600/Bible-Scientific.png">
</p><p>
It is often stated that the Bible and Science are not compatible, that the Bible is not a scientific text and that you can not believe the Bible and also believe science. I think this is short sighted as there are a number of places in Scripture where scientific facts were stated even before man understood them. The Bible is not a scientific text in that it is not meant to be the full explanation of scientific fact, but it does direct us to understand the nature of God scientifically as well as spiritually. It complements science. God uses His Word to help us understand Him and His creation with our mind, soul and spirit.
</p><p>
Galileo Galilei said:
<div style="margin: 15px">
"The prohibition of science would be contrary to the Bible, which in hundreds of places teaches us how the greatness and the glory of God shine forth marvelously in all His works, and is to be read above all in the open book of the heavens."
</div>
</p><p>
<center>=======================================================================</center>
</p><p>
In this blog we will take a look at this verse from Psalms:
<div style="margin: 15px">
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/psa/104/2/s_582002">Psalm 104:2 (NIV)</a> - The LORD wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent...
</div>
</p><p>
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/psa/104/1/s_582001">Psalm 104</a> is an elaboration of the physical creation events. Each section of verses detail another small part of creation - the Earth covered with water, the separation and formation of the land, the water cycle, plants and animals, food for all creatures, man works in the day and the animals hunt by night, the vastness of the oceans teeming with life and God's Sovereignty over ALL of His creation!
</p><p>
<ul>
<li><b>Verses 1-4</b> - God and the majesty of the heavens
<li><b>Verses 5-9</b> - Creation of the sea and dry land
<li><b>Verses 10-18</b> - Provisions for the feeding and maintenance of all the creatures according to their nature
<li><b>Verses 19-24</b> - The Regular Course of the Sun and Moon (day & night) and the seasons
<li><b>Verses 25-26</b> - The vastness of the sea and all that dwells in it
<li><b>Verses 27-30</b> - God's Sovereignty over the Creatures and His creation
<li><b>Verses 31-35</b> - May the glory of the LORD endure for ever, may the LORD rejoice in his works
</ul>
</p><p>
Specifically, <a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/psa/104/2/s_582002">Psalm 104:2</a> can be divided into two parts - "The LORD wraps himself in light as with a garment" - pointing to His invisible nature, and "He stretches out the heavens like a tent" explaining how He formed the universe.
</p><p>
Taking part one we find that God, by nature, is invisible and He is so majestic that He can use the light of the universe as His garment. This part of the verse also points to how we can see God in His creation when we look to the heavens (see <a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/psa/19/1/s_497001">Psalm 19:1</a> and <a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/rom/1/20/s_1047020">Romans 1:20</a>).
</p><p>
The second part points to the heavens as being "stretched out" (expanded) like a tent. As we see in the Big Bang Theory, the universe expanded from a singularity and science currently afirms that the universe is still expanding.
</p><p>
<hr width="90%" />
<div style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 105%;"><b>For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities</b></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 105%;"><b>His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen,</b></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 105%;"><b>being understood from what has been made,</b></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 105%;"><b>so that people are without excuse. - <font color="#aa0114">Romans 1:20</font></b></span><br>
</div>
<hr width="90%" />
</p><p>
The Hebrew word used here for tent is "yĕriy`ah." It means a tent, curtain, drape, or veil - a fabric that can be hung up as in the tent of the tabernacle in the desert during the 40 years of wandering. This could be God's dwelling place (the heavens) or it could be indicating the shape of the universe as flat like a curtain but being a place where creation can exist.
</p><p>
Einstein's theory of General Relativity says if the critical density is equal to the actual density of the universe, it is flat, as opposed to curved like a sphere (more dense - closed) or a saddle (less dense - open).
</p><p>
<img width="255" hspace="5" vspace="5" align="right" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/98/End_of_universe.jpg">
</p><p>
Scientists think that the actual density of the universe is equal to the critical density, and thus think the universe will extend forever like a flat piece of paper. Currently the universe is still stretching out but the expansion rate will slow down gradually, over an infinite amount of time. Thus, the universe is considered flat and infinite in size.
</p><p>
NASA's Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) measured background fluctuations in an effort to determine whether the universe is open or closed. In 2013, scientists announced that the universe was known to be flat with only a 0.4 percent margin of error.
</p><p>
Therefore this verse (<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/psa/104/2/s_582002">Psalm 104:2</a>) matches with what science has found based on the Theory of Relativity, that the universe is stretching out (expanding) and is like a tent or curtain (flat).
</p><p>
The speed of light limits us to viewing the volume of the universe visible since the Big Bang; because the universe is approximately 13.8 billion years old, scientists can only see 13.8 billion light-years from Earth.
</p><p>
The universe will continue to grow until it all burns out (entropy - second law of thermodynamics). We will look at this idea next time in Hebrews.
</p><p>
Next up:
</p><p>
<div style="margin: 15px">
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/heb/1/10/s_1134010">Hebrews 1:10-12 (NIV)</a> -
He also says, “In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. <sup>11</sup>They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. <sup>12</sup>You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.
</div>
</p>
God's Chemistry Sethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395978295675996565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3751368798332947932.post-64519818662122137092019-01-27T22:48:00.000-08:002019-01-27T22:48:33.805-08:00The Bible Scientific - Job 25:2<p>
"The Bible Scientific" is my current blog series. Each post will examine a verse or two directly from Scripture and try to explain that Biblical quote from a scientific perspective.
</p><p>
<img width="255" hspace="5" vspace="5" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxcOOhh0eKMXFuoTB1HM1qS6RygAU6G1PIt42DcdnyxajQKShuI-EZThy0ReymJtAf6BBw3NTNSmgLAbKHH1UDjTGh05O6M5EoxLjIgu-1kLE-mGa2T8GQtsmRqdSY71peBTgfiiXFPM/s1600/Bible-Scientific.png">
</p><p>
It is often stated that the Bible and Science are not compatible, that the Bible is not a scientific text and that you can not believe the Bible and also believe science. I think this is short sighted as there are a number of places in Scripture where scientific facts were stated even before man understood them. The Bible is not a scientific text in that it is not meant to be the full explanation of scientific fact, but it does direct us to understand the nature of God scientifically as well as spiritually. It complements science. God uses His Word to help us understand Him and His creation with our mind, soul and spirit.
</p><p>
Galileo Galilei said:
<div style="margin: 15px">
"The prohibition of science would be contrary to the Bible, which in hundreds of places teaches us how the greatness and the glory of God shine forth marvelously in all His works, and is to be read above all in the open book of the heavens."
</div>
</p><p>
<center>=======================================================================</center>
</p><p>
This post of "The Bible Scientific," looks at - Job 25:2
<div style="margin: 15px">
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/job/25/2/s_461002">Job 25:2 (NIV)</a> - Dominion and awe belong to God; he establishes order in the heights of heaven.
</div>
</p><p>
<a title="By NASA / WMAP Science Team [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ilc_9yr_moll4096.png">By NASA / WMAP Science Team [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons<img hspace="5" vspace="5" align="left" width="256" alt="Ilc 9yr moll4096" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/Ilc_9yr_moll4096.png/256px-Ilc_9yr_moll4096.png"></a>
</p><p>
This verse shows that God has created an all-encompassing order to the universe. Science has found that all physical laws apply to the whole universe everywhere and equally. This concept is called "The Cosmological Principle."
</p><p>
Astronomer William Keel explained it like this:
<div style="margin: 15px">
"The cosmological principle is usually stated formally as 'Viewed on a sufficiently large scale, the properties of the universe are the same for all observers.' This amounts to the strongly philosophical statement that the part of the universe which we can see is a fair sample, and that <b>the same physical laws apply throughout</b>. In essence, this in a sense says that the universe is knowable and is playing fair with scientists."
</div>
</p><p>
The cosmological principle is first clearly asserted in the <i>Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica</i> (1687) of Isaac Newton. Newton conceptualized the Earth as a sphere in orbital motion around the Sun within an empty space that extended uniformly in all directions to immeasurably large distances. Earlier cosmologies held that the Earth rested at the center of universe, with the sun and moon rotating around it. Newton also asserted the uniform extension of the physical laws of motion to a great distance beyond the observational location of Earth itself.
</p><p>
<hr width="90%" />
<div style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 105%;"><b>The harmony of natural law reveals an intelligence of such superiority that,</b></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 105%;"><b>Compared with it, all the systematic thinking and acting of human beings</b></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 105%;"><b>is an utterly insignificant reflection. - <font color="#aa0114">Albert Einstein</font></b></span><br>
</div>
<hr width="90%" />
</p><p>
Now if we translate this verse from a more scientific bent, it might say this - "The great power and rule of God brings order to all the heavens. "The great power and rule" are the physical laws that we see everywhere in the universe. Thus God, by His all-powerful nature, created the heavens and holds them in place by the physical laws He established. For man to be able to examine and understand anything about the universe around us, the laws of physics <b>must</b> apply uniformly and completely to the entire universe.
</p><p>
An orderly universe has traditionally been seen as “proof” of a creator-God who ordained natural law.
As Albert Einstein said, “The harmony of natural law reveals an intelligence of such superiority that, compared with it, all the systematic thinking and acting of human beings is an utterly insignificant reflection.”
</p><p>
In the next blog we will examine the verse: <a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/psa/104/2/s_582002">Psalm 104:2 (NIV)</a> - The LORD wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent...
</p>God's Chemistry Sethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395978295675996565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3751368798332947932.post-52635668211533608532018-12-13T20:09:00.000-08:002018-12-13T20:09:15.796-08:00The Bible Scientific - Genesis 1:2<p>
This is my third entry in a new series of posts called "The Bible Scientific." Each post will examine a verse or two directly from Scripture and try to explain that Biblical quote from a scientific perspective.
</p><p>
<img width="192" hspace="5" vspace="5" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxcOOhh0eKMXFuoTB1HM1qS6RygAU6G1PIt42DcdnyxajQKShuI-EZThy0ReymJtAf6BBw3NTNSmgLAbKHH1UDjTGh05O6M5EoxLjIgu-1kLE-mGa2T8GQtsmRqdSY71peBTgfiiXFPM/s1600/Bible-Scientific.png">
</p><p>
It is often stated that the Bible and Science are not compatible, that the Bible is not a scientific text and that you can not believe the Bible and also believe science. I think this is short sighted as there are a number of places in Scripture where scientific facts were stated even before man understood them. The Bible is not a scientific text in that it is not meant to be the full explanation of scientific fact, but it does direct us to understand the nature of God scientifically as well as spiritually. It complements science. God uses His Word to help us understand Him and His creation with our mind, soul and spirit.
</p><p>
Galileo Galilei said:
<div style="margin: 15px">
"The prohibition of science would be contrary to the Bible, which in hundreds of places teaches us how the greatness and the glory of God shine forth marvelously in all His works, and is to be read above all in the open book of the heavens."
</div>
</p><p>
If you have a favorite scientific verse or have a verse you would like reviewed, just send a note in the comment section at the bottom of this blog post. I will try to include it in a future blog entry.
</p><p>
<center>=======================================================================</center>
</p><p>
Now lets move to:
<div style="margin: 15px">
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/gen/1/2/s_1002">Genesis 1:2 (NIV)</a> – Now the earth was <b>formless and empty</b>, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was <b>hovering</b> over the waters.
</div>
</p><p>
Science is just now wrestling with the concept of the earth as the only source of life. Science is starting to find exoplanets, planets outside our solar system, and claiming that they may be suitable for life (any life, not just intelligent life). But on the other hand, science is also finding specific conditions that must exist on such a planet, hundreds of them in fact, such that the earth is the only planet so far that seems to meet them all. It is estimated that there is about 10<sup>24</sup> planets in the visible universe.
</p><p>
<hr width="90%" />
<div style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 105%;"><b>There is less than 1 chance in 10<sup>311</sup></b></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 105%;"><b>That even one planet capable of supporting life would occur anywhere</b></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 105%;"><b>In the universe without invoking divine miracles. - <font color="#aa0114">Reasons.org</font></b></span><br>
</div>
<hr width="90%" />
</p><p>
Even then it is a wonder the earth does meet them as the odds are strongly against it, even to the limits of an impossibility (only one planet in over 30 trillion <b>universes</b> in a multiverse existence might meet all of the hundreds of known specific conditions that a planet must have to sustain intelligent life). <a href="https://www.reasons.org/explore/blogs/todays-new-reason-to-believe/read/tnrtb/2010/11/16/rtb-design-compendium-2009">Reasons to Believe (Reasons.org)</a> has lists of these specific conditions that must be met for life to exist. One such list claims 501 specific conditions just for bacterial life to survive for 90 days. The odds of even one planet meeting all 501 conditions is less than 1 in 10<sup>311</sup>.
</p><p>
<a title="By Murray Foubister [CC BY-SA 2.0
(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0
)], via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Back_to_the_Six_Mile_Lake_eagles_(Haliaeetus_leucocephalus).%22feed_me_mom%22._(19159890706).jpg"><img width="256" hspace="5" vspace="5" align="left" alt="Back to the Six Mile Lake eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)."feed me mom". (19159890706)" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fe/Back_to_the_Six_Mile_Lake_eagles_%28Haliaeetus_leucocephalus%29.%22feed_me_mom%22._%2819159890706%29.jpg/256px-Back_to_the_Six_Mile_Lake_eagles_%28Haliaeetus_leucocephalus%29.%22feed_me_mom%22._%2819159890706%29.jpg"></a>
</p><p>
The Hebrew words used in Genesis 1:2 point to a formless earth (the primordial soup?), and God hovering over it. The Hebrew word for "hover" is "rachaph" which implies a watchful, loving attention to the entire creation process, much like a mother eagle hovering over her chicks. God watched over His creation, and still does, to bring it to its full glory (reducing those 1 in 10<sup>311</sup> chances down to 1 in 1).<br clear="all">
</p><p>
Genesis 1:2 also portrays a world covered by water, before the formation of the continents, with a thick blanket of clouds (water or other vapors?) surrounding it such that much of the light from the sun was blocked out (could not see the sun as a sphere from the surface of the earth). The temperature of the surface was no doubt warmer too - possibly a perfect incubator for the creation of the beginnings of life - microbes.
</p><p>
Next up: <a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/job/25/2/s_461002">Job 25:2 (NIV)</a> - “Dominion and awe belong to God; he establishes order in the heights of heaven.
</p>
God's Chemistry Sethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395978295675996565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3751368798332947932.post-55291242261355203072018-11-20T19:39:00.004-08:002018-11-20T19:39:52.348-08:00The Bible Scientific - Perspective<p>
This is my second entry in a new series of posts called "The Bible Scientific." Each post will examine a verse or two directly from Scripture and try to explain that Biblical quote from a scientific perspective.
</p><p>
<img width="192" hspace="5" vspace="5" align="right" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxcOOhh0eKMXFuoTB1HM1qS6RygAU6G1PIt42DcdnyxajQKShuI-EZThy0ReymJtAf6BBw3NTNSmgLAbKHH1UDjTGh05O6M5EoxLjIgu-1kLE-mGa2T8GQtsmRqdSY71peBTgfiiXFPM/s1600/Bible-Scientific.png">
</p><p>
It is often stated that the Bible and Science are not compatible, that the Bible is not a scientific text and that you can not believe the Bible and also believe science. I think this is short sighted as there are a number of places in Scripture where scientific facts were stated even before man understood them. The Bible is not a scientific text in that it is not meant to be the full explanation of scientific fact, but it does direct us to understand the nature of God scientifically as well as spiritually. It complements science. God uses His Word to help us understand Him and His creation with our mind, soul and spirit.
</p><p>
Galileo Galilei said:
<div style="margin: 15px">
"The prohibition of science would be contrary to the Bible, which in hundreds of places teaches us how the greatness and the glory of God shine forth marvelously in all His works, and is to be read above all in the open book of the heavens."
</div>
</p><p>
If you have a favorite scientific verse or have a verse you would like reviewed, just send a comment in the section at the bottom of this blog post. I will try to include it in a future blog entry.
</p><p>
<center>=======================================================================</center>
</p><p>
So I mentioned in my last blog that we would be moving to <a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/gen/1/2/s_1002">Genesis 1:2</a> next. But that was before a reader's comment made me realize I left something out of my discussion. Lets look at Genesis 1:1 again:
<div style="margin: 15px">
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/gen/1/1/s_1001">Genesis 1:1 (NIV)</a> - In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
</div>
</p><p>
The Hebrew word used for "heavens" here is "shamayim" which means "a high and lofty place," that is, the abode of the stars - the universe. Then the writer uses the word "'erets" which means land or earth - as opposed to the heavens. But isn't the earth part of the heavens?
</p><p>
<img width="384" hspace="5" vspace="5" align="left" src="https://amp.businessinsider.com/images/57e1a3cfb0ef97eb018b709b-1136-568.jpg">
</p><p>
The point I am making here is one of perspective. I consider the Bible as the inspired Word of God. But, it is written by man and thus the perspective of the writer is one of being on the earth, and what that looks like in the context of the Scripture. In Genesis and the Creation story, the Bible is written from the writer's view on earth looking up into the heavens - what would he see?
</p><p>
In <a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/gen/1/1/s_1001">Genesis 1:1</a> the writer would see (if he was there!) the creation of the heavens - the explosion that was the "Big Bang" and the coming together of the stars and sun and planets. But the writer did not see this, as man was not created until the sixth day!
</p><p>
One of my readers pointed this out to me indirectly. He stated the the Sun and Moon were not created until the fourth day, after the plants. How could this be as plants, created in day 3, need light to grow. A more careful read actually shows that light was created on the first day, and the separation of the light and the dark became the night and the day - essentially the sun and the moon (<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/gen/1/3/s_1003">Genesis 1:3-5</a>). But the sun and moon were not visible from earth on the first day as earth's atmosphere was not as it is today - transparent - it had too much methane, which produced a thick hydrocarbon fog and only light could pass through. From the surface of the earth, neither sun nor moon was visible.
</p><p>
<hr width="90%" />
<div style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 105%;"><b>God said, Let there be light: and there was light - <font color="#aa0114">Genesis 1:3</font></b></span><br>
</div>
<hr width="90%" />
</p><p>
On the fourth day (<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/gen/1/14/s_1014">Genesis 1:14-19</a>), God cleared the atmosphere so that the sun and moon and stars became visible from the earth. At this point the movement of the sun, moon and stars relative to the earth also became visible. The word "ma'owr" is used here for the word light, not the same word (but from the same root) as used for light as in <a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/gen/1/3/s_1003">Genesis 1:3</a>. "Ma'owr" means a luminous body - the now visible sun and moon. Making them visible was necessary for animals, created on the fifth day, that used them to be guided by the seasons to hunt and migrate. Plus, as <a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/gen/1/14/s_1014">Genesis 1:14</a> says - “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and <b>let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years...</b>", a visible sun and moon ultimately allows for man to mark his lifetime.
</p><p>
Also the verb used in <a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/gen/1/16/s_1016">Genesis 1:16</a> ("God <b>made</b> two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night.") for "made" is "`asah" which does not mean to create from nothing, as "bara'" does, but implies taking something that already exists and accomplishing an action with it - as in making the sun and moon visible from the earth.
</p><p>
Remember, in my view, that the days here are not 24 hour days but individual stretches of time (the word used in <a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/gen/1/5/s_1005">Genesis 1:5</a> for "day" is "yowm", which can mean an amount of time from a 24 hour day into long periods (millions?) of years for each "day") during which God guided His creation to become that which He wanted, one that can support all the living things He desired to create, including humans - created after His image.
</p><p>
<b>Next time we will look at:</b> <a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/gen/1/2/s_1002">Genesis 1:2</a> – Now the earth was <b>formless and empty</b>, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was <b>hovering</b> over the waters.
</p>
God's Chemistry Sethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395978295675996565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3751368798332947932.post-19083680572864202402018-10-15T20:01:00.000-07:002018-10-15T20:01:39.757-07:00The Bible Scientific - Genesis 1:1<p>
I am starting a new series of posts that I hope to be shorter, more focused and posted more frequently than I have in the past. Each one will take a verse or two directly from Scripture and try to explain that Biblical quote from a scientific perspective. I am calling these blog posts "The Bible Scientific" with a notation to the specific verse(s) that I am discussing.
</p><p>
<img width="340" hspace="5" vspace="5" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxcOOhh0eKMXFuoTB1HM1qS6RygAU6G1PIt42DcdnyxajQKShuI-EZThy0ReymJtAf6BBw3NTNSmgLAbKHH1UDjTGh05O6M5EoxLjIgu-1kLE-mGa2T8GQtsmRqdSY71peBTgfiiXFPM/s1600/Bible-Scientific.png">
</p><p>
It is often stated that the Bible and Science are not compatible, that the Bible is not a scientific text and that you can not believe the Bible and also believe science. I think this is short sighted as there are a number of places in Scripture where scientific facts were stated even before man understood them. The Bible is not a scientific text in that it is not meant to be the full explanation of scientific fact, but it does direct us to understand the nature of God scientifically as well as spiritually. It complements science. God uses His Word to help us understand Him and His creation with our mind, soul and spirit.
</p><p>
Galileo Galilei said:
<div style="margin: 15px">
"The prohibition of science would be contrary to the Bible, which in hundreds of places teaches us how the greatness and the glory of God shine forth marvelously in all His works, and is to be read above all in the open book of the heavens."
</div>
</p><p>
We will start our new series below in Genesis. If you have a favorite scientific verse or have a verse you would like reviewed, just send a comment in the section at the bottom of this blog post. I will try to include it in a future blog entry.
</p><p>
<center>=======================================================================</center>
</p><p>
So for this first post of "The Bible Scientific," let's start at the beginning - Genesis 1:1
<div style="margin: 15px">
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/gen/1/1/s_1001">Genesis 1:1 (NIV)</a> - In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
</div>
</p><p>
The Hebrew word used for "create" here is "bara'" which means "to create absolutely," that is, to create from nothing. Scientifically, this verse declares something akin to the Big Bang, that in the beginning the universe was created from nothing.
</p><p>
<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CMB_Timeline300_no_WMAP.jpg#/media/File:CMB_Timeline300_no_WMAP.jpg">
<img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6f/CMB_Timeline300_no_WMAP.jpg" alt="CMB Timeline300 no WMAP.jpg" align="right" hspace="5" vspace="2" width="320" height="211"></a>
</p><p>
Up until about 90 years ago, science stated that the universe was eternal, had always existed (and thus had no cause). It wasn’t until the 1930’s that the concept of the explosion of a singularity blooming into the universe was first conceived, and with it the beginning of time, space and the physical laws of nature. It took until the late 1950’s for scientists even to agree on such a theory.
</p><p>
(By NASA/WMAP Science Team - Original version: <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://map.gsfc.nasa.gov/media/060915/index.html">NASA</a>; modified by <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=User:Cherkash&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="User:Cherkash (page does not exist)">Cherkash</a>, Public Domain, <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11885244">Link</a>)
</p><p>
Moses, identified in the Bible as the author of Genesis, is estimated to have lived about 1500 BC. Secular sources identify Genesis as being written between the 10th and 5th century BC. In either case, if Genesis 1:1 labels the creation of the universe as something synonymous to a "Big Bang," it was certainly much earlier than it was defined by science.
</p><p>
<hr width="90%" />
<div style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 105%;"><b>[Big Bang theory] suggested that matter and motion originated</b></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 105%;"><b>Rather as Genesis [in the Bible] suggests, ex nihilo, out of nothing,</b></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 105%;"><b>In a stupendous explosion of light and energy. - <font color="#aa0114">Newsweek</font></b></span><br>
</div>
<hr width="90%" />
</p><p>
And it appears that the Big Bang had to be fine tuned to such a degree that even the smallest of change would have resulted in no universe at all.
</p><p>
Steven Hawking said:
</p><p>
<div style="margin: 15px">
"If the rate of expansion one second after the Big Bang had been smaller by even one part in a hundred thousand million million, it would have recollapsed before it reached its present size. On the other hand, if it had been greater by a part in a million, the universe would have expanded too rapidly for stars and planets to form."
</div>
</p><p>
Then there is the "cause" of the Big Bang. Science, at first, said it must be creation:
</p><p>
Newsweek, in 1998, said:
</p><p>
<div style="margin: 15px">
"[Big Bang theory] suggested that matter and motion originated rather as Genesis [in the Bible] suggests, ex nihilo, out of nothing, in a stupendous explosion of light and energy."
</div></p><p>
And Steven Hawking said:
</p><p>
<div style="margin: 15px">
"Many scientists did not like the idea that the universe had a beginning, a moment of creation."
</div>
</p><p>
Now some scientists are questioning the Big Bang again, it seems, because it speaks of something beyond the beginning of time. This is the "Cosmological Argument" - that everything that had a beginning had a cause - a transcendent cause outside of itself. Genesis 1:1 shows that there was existence before the creation - God (who by definition had no beginning) had to exist outside of, and before, the dimensions of time and physical space came to be - the universe has a transcendent cause, AND a Creator. Science does not like that (it can not be proven or tested scientifically). New theories are looking for a universe created by the Big Bang but without the need for God to be the transcendent cause.
</p><p>
Scientific American said in 1999:
</p><p>
<div style="margin: 15px">
"The big bang theory does not describe the birth of the universe … Another theory describing even earlier times will be needed to explain the original creation of the universe."
</div>
</p><p>
So is another theory needed? Can science develop a theory that will truly answer the question "What caused the Universe?" If the creation of the universe was the start of space and time, everything "physical" and the natural laws that govern it all, is it possible to find something else that could have created the universe from outside of those restraints when science cannot even see beyond them?
</p><p>
Science in the past explained that the universe, "just existed," and needed no explanation for its existence when it was thought that the universe was eternal. Why is it not possible to say the same for a God who created the universe. Could not an eternal God be that cause, even though we can not prove that or even prove that God exists, scientifically?
</p><p>
<div style="margin: 15px">
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/psa/102/25/s_580025">Psalm 102:25</a> – In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.
</div>
</p><p>
<b>Next up:</b> <a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/gen/1/2/s_1002">Genesis 1:2</a> – Now the earth was <b>formless and empty</b>, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was <b>hovering</b> over the waters.
</p>
God's Chemistry Sethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395978295675996565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3751368798332947932.post-27576019379027936542018-07-03T07:25:00.000-07:002018-07-03T07:25:08.604-07:00Independence Day - The Chemistry of Liberty - Revisited<p>I published this back in 2012 and thought it worth publishing again. The principles of this Declaration, along with the Constitution, have governed us for almost 250 years. Hopefully they will continue to be the law of the land for many years to come. Remember that individual FREEDOM plus personal RESPONSIBILITY(accountability) equals LIBERTY within society! <b>True Liberty is living as we should not as we please</b>. We can not and will not remain a free nation (have a free society) if we take personal responsibility out of how we live. Freedom without Responsibility results in Lawlessness.
</p><p>
The definition goes as follows:
</p><p>
<ul>
<li><b>Freedom</b> = The power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint
<li><b>Responsibility</b> = The state or fact of being accountable for your actions
<li><b>Liberty</b> = The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority
</ul>
</p><p></p><p>
<b>Freedom + Responsibility = Liberty</b>
</p><p>
OR
</p><p>
The power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants + The state of being accountable = A free Nation (society)
</p><p>
</p><p>
Paul summed it up in 1 Corinthians when he told us to "seek the good of many," not just our own good.
</p><p>
<div style="margin-left: 10px;"><a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/1co/10/32/s_1072032">1 Corinthians 10:32-33 (NIV)</a> - Do not cause anyone to stumble...try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.</div>
</p>======================================================================<p>
<a href="http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/"><img align="left" alt="" hspace="5" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/United_States_Declaration_of_Independence.jpg/256px-United_States_Declaration_of_Independence.jpg" vspace="0" width="252" /></a>
<i><span style="font-size: 130%; color: darkblue;">In CONGRESS</span>, <span style="font-size: 100%; color: darkblue;">July 4, 1776.</span></i>
</p><p>
<div><i><span style="font-size: 130%; color: darkblue;">The unanimous Declaration</span><span style="font-size: 100%; color: darkblue;"> of the thirteen united </span><span style="font-size: 130%; color: darkblue;">States of America,</span></i></div><br />
<i style="color: darkblue;">When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.</i>
</p><p>
<div style="margin-left: 30px;">On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress of the United States approved the Lee Resolution and declared their LIBERTY from the tyranny of King George and the British Empire. A committee was already working on a formal declaration and John Adams had proposed Thomas Jefferson to draft the document for Congressional approval. On July 4, 1776 Jefferson's draft, a formal explanation of why Congress had voted to declare independence, was approved. </div><br />
<i style="color: darkblue;">We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.</i>
</p><p>
<div style="margin-left: 30px;">The document declared that men have certain God given rights - to be governed justly, to be represented equally, and to not be oppressed. No one person is born more important than another. No elite has a right to rule over the masses by virtue of their birth.</div><br />
<i style="color: darkblue;">--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, </i>
</p><p>
<div style="margin-left: 30px;">And that governments are established to guarantee this equitable treatment, <b>establishing the law based on the will of the people</b>, something we seem to be forgetting today.</div><br />
<i style="color: darkblue;">--That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. </i>
</p><p>
<div style="margin-left: 30px;">Whenever the existing government becomes oppressive, the people have the right to alter or to institute a new form of government. In a representative government such as ours, this means the right to elect new representatives.</div><br />
<i style="color: darkblue;">Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.</i>
</p><p>
<div style="margin-left: 30px;">And this right can not be taken lightly. The decision to change must be made only after patient pursuit of all possible solutions to the problems at hand. But once all efforts are exhausted it is their (and our) right, indeed their (our) duty, to look to move to independence from such tyranny.</div><br />
<i style="color: darkblue;">--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. </i>
</p><p>
<div style="margin-left: 30px;">So having patiently tried all means to make such change as to allow the United States to continue under the rule of the British Empire, the only possible solution was the succession from that government in the pursuit of LIBERTY and the establishment of a new government.</div><br />
<i style="color: darkblue;">To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.</i>
</p><p>
<div style="margin-left: 30px;">So the Congress let the evidence of British Tyranny be clearly stated to the world. King George had:</div><div style="margin-left: -20px; color: darkblue;"><ul><li><i style="color: darkblue;">He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.</i> </li>
<li><i style="color: darkblue;">He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.</i> </li>
<li><i style="color: darkblue;">He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would <b>relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature</b>, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.</i> </li>
<li><i style="color: darkblue;">He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.</i> </li>
<li><i style="color: darkblue;">He has <b>dissolved Representative Houses </b>repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.</i> </li>
<li><i style="color: darkblue;">He has <b>refused</b> for a long time, after such dissolutions, <b>to cause others to be elected</b>; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.</i> </li>
<li><i style="color: darkblue;">He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.</i> </li>
<li><i style="color: darkblue;">He has <b>obstructed the Administration of Justice</b>, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.</i> </li>
<li><i style="color: darkblue;">He has <b>made Judges dependent on his Will alone</b>, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.</i> </li>
<li><i style="color: darkblue;">He has <b>erected a multitude of New Offices</b>, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.</i> </li>
<li><i style="color: darkblue;">He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.</i> </li>
<li><i style="color: darkblue;">He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.</i> </li>
<li><i style="color: darkblue;">He has <b>combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution</b>, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:</i> <ul><li><i style="color: darkblue;">For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:</i> </li>
<li><i style="color: darkblue;">For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:</i> </li>
<li><i style="color: darkblue;">For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:</i> </li>
<li><i style="color: darkblue;">For<b> imposing Taxes on us without our Consent</b>:</i> </li>
<li><i style="color: darkblue;">For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:</i> </li>
<li><i style="color: darkblue;">For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences</i> </li>
<li><i style="color: darkblue;">For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:</i> </li>
<li><i style="color: darkblue;">For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:</i> </li>
<li><i style="color: darkblue;">For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.</i> </li>
</ul></li>
<li><i style="color: darkblue;">He has <b>abdicated Government </b>here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.</i> </li>
<li><i style="color: darkblue;">He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.</i> </li>
<li><i style="color: darkblue;">He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.</i> </li>
<li><i style="color: darkblue;">He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.</i> </li>
<li><i style="color: darkblue;">He has <b>excited domestic insurrections amongst us</b>, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.</i><br />
</li>
</ul></div><div style="margin-left: 30px;">Are we seeing some of these same injustices today?</div><br />
<i style="color: darkblue;">In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.</i>
</p><p>
<div style="margin-left: 30px;">With these offenses, the King and his country were no longer fit to rule the Colonies.</div><br />
<i style="color: darkblue;">Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.</i>
</p><p>
<div style="margin-left: 30px;">With repeated warnings, the Continental Congress informed the British of their injustices and of the consequences of continued oppression. Separation was inevitable.</div><br />
<i style="color: darkblue;">We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be <b>Free and Independent</b> States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, <b>with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence</b>, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and <b>our sacred Honor</b>.</i>
</p><p>
<div style="margin-left: 30px;">By signing this Declaration of Independence, the Colonies broke away from all allegiance to the British Crown, totally dissolving all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain. They declared themselves FREE and INDEPENDENT.</div><br />
All thirteen colonies, a total of 56 representatives, signed the declaration, including John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. John Hancock, as president of the Second Continental Congress and one of the representatives for Massachusetts, signed his name largely and clearly so that King George could read it without his spectacles.
</p><p>
<hr width="90%" /><div style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><b>True Liberty is to Live As We Should, Not as We Please</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b>Liberty = Freedom + Responsibility</b></span></div><hr width="90%" /><br />
All of this struggle began years earlier. Originating in the 1750s and 1760s, the notion of "taxation without representation" was one of the primary grievances of the British colonists and was one of the major reasons for the American Revolution. Many colonists believed the lack of direct representation was an illegal denial of their rights as Englishmen, and therefore laws taxing the colonists or laws applying only to the colonies, were unconstitutional.
</p><p>
One of the early actions against the British was the Boston Tea Party. It was the culmination of a resistance movement throughout British America against the Tea Act, which had been passed by the British Parliament in 1773. The Tea Party Colonists objected to the Tea Act for a variety of reasons, primarily because they believed that it violated their right to be taxed without representation in the Parliament. On December 16, 1773, after officials in Boston refused to return three shiploads of taxed tea to Britain, a group of colonists, the Sons of Liberty, boarded the ships and destroyed the tea by throwing it into Boston Harbor.
</p><p>
The Boston Tea Party was a key event in the growth of the American Revolution. Parliament responded in 1774 in part by closing Boston Harbor until the British East India Company had been repaid for the destroyed tea. Colonists in turn responded with additional acts of protest, and by convening the First Continental Congress. The crisis continued to escalate, and the American Revolutionary War began near Boston in 1775.
</p><p>
Other memorable actions strengthening the American resolve were the Gadsden flag and Patrick Henry's "Give me <b>Liberty</b>, or Give me Death!" speech. "Give me Liberty, or Give me Death!" is a quotation attributed to Patrick Henry from a speech, given on March 23, 1775, to the Virginia Convention. Reportedly, those in attendance, upon hearing Henry's speech, shouted, "give me liberty or give me death!"
</p><p>
In 1754, during the French and Indian War, Franklin published his famous woodcut of a snake cut into eight sections. It represented the colonies, with New England joined together as the head and South Carolina as the tail. The other colonies were listed in between, in their order along the coast. Under the snake was the message "Join, or Die". This was the first political cartoon published in an American newspaper. This was followed by the Gadsden flag which has a yellow field with a rattlesnake coiled and ready to strike. Positioned below the snake are the words "DONT TREAD ON ME". The flag was designed by and is named after American general and statesman Christopher Gadsden. It was first used by the Continental Marines in the fall of 1775. The symbol of the rattlesnake became one of the images of the resolve of the colonists.
</p><p>
The Declaration of Independence, drafted by Thomas Jefferson between June 11 and June 28, 1776, is at once the nation's most cherished symbol of <b>Liberty</b> and Jefferson's most enduring document. Jefferson concisely expressed the convictions of the American people. The philosophy was not new; the idea of individual freedoms had already been expressed by John Locke and the Continental philosophers. What Jefferson did was to summarize it in "self-evident truths" and set forth a list of grievances against the King justifying before the world the breaking of ties with the mother country.
</p><p>
The American colonists revolted for <b>Liberty</b> over a list of grievances, chief among them the lack of representation in the British legislature and the accompanying tyrannical rule, and the rest is history.
</p><p>
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/2co/3/17/s_1081017">2 Corinthians 3:17 (NIV)</a> - Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is <b>Liberty</b>.
</p>
God's Chemistry Sethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395978295675996565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3751368798332947932.post-12380317504297900632018-03-10T14:10:00.000-08:002018-03-10T14:10:13.292-08:00The Chemistry of Prayer<p>
Prayer, what is it? Webster’s says it is…
</p><p>
<div style="text-align: center;">
“…an address (such as a petition) to God in word or thought”
</div>
</p><p>
For most non-Christian religions and even some Christian ones, it is a ritualistic expression of obedience to an unknown or unknowable God. A monologue with something beyond themselves. And yet over half of the world claims to pray daily and 75% say that prayer is an important part of their daily life. I would dare to say that almost everyone prays or has prayed at some point, even if it is just saying “Oh my God!” or “God help me,” without thinking, in a moment of crisis or stress.
</p><p>
But for many Christians, the focus of this blog, prayer is indeed an essential. For us, it is a dialogue with our Savior; open, continuous communication with the one we love and the one who loves us. Paul says in <a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/1th/5/16/s_1116016">1 Th 5:16-18 (NKJV)</a> – “Rejoice always, <b>pray without ceasing</b>, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
</p><p>
<a href=""><img width="288" hspace="5" vspace="5" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeVFcvb9a9HcXyrhF8E7NYl4P0oUYNRE523yEMJSGOvAj5dGEXVojy7Op6skUiSavzPO9wcd9BCrL-dC-ArLIyd-Xgju-zWTAlNj2r9iLVlrGAFKV8eNM4zptGahNSTSd3ky2RSW_244/s320/Dove+Cropped.jpg"></a>
</p><p>
Prayer is communication with God, who is, by definition, outside of our space-time continuum. He exists everywhere, not just in the physical world, so He cannot be quantified by physical scientific measures. We see that when we say that the world was created by God, juxtaposed to Evolution and the Big Bang. Science can create theories and perform tests and study these terms because they exist fully inside our physical existence. A Theory of God cannot be tested, nor can prayer be fully examined and quantified by science as it is partially in that realm of God and partially in our physical realm.
</p><p>
Scientific studies examine what happens when, as an example, drug A is given to Patient B with disease C and then a certain outcome is expected when all the variables are accounted for. When a study looks at anything outside the physical universe, the variables can’t even be known, let alone accounted for in total.
</p><p>
But science has tried and will continue to try as this is the nature of man, to want to know and understand his world, with or without God. Because prayer crosses over from our physical world into the spiritual world, we can “test” that part which lies with us, but because we cannot test it all, our answers may not satisfy nor be complete.
</p><p>
Scientific (and not so scientific) studies have been conducted for centuries attempting to quantify the effects of prayer, focusing on physical healings. Are the sick or injured comforted by prayer? Are they cured? Do miracles really happen? Individual prayers, group prayers, specific prayers derived from Scripture, and free form prayers have all been tested.
</p><p>
<hr width="90%" />
<div style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b>No form of scientific inquiry presently available</b></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b>Can suitably address the subject</b></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b>Of Prayer</b></span><br>
</div>
<hr width="90%" />
</p><p>
Recent studies on prayer have had a focus within medicine. According to the <i>Washington Post</i>, "...prayer is the most common complement to mainstream medicine, far outpacing acupuncture, herbs, vitamins and other alternative remedies." In much of the scientific research when people learn they have been prayed for, many say they feel comforted, both physically and emotionally.
</p><p>
An article, printed in the <i>Indian Journal of Psychiatry</i> in 2009, where numerous clinical trials involving prayer were studied reported on the efficacy of prayer in healing. The authors share evidence from studies where prayer was effectual, where it had no impact and where it actually appeared to be detrimental to the prayed for subjects. In their work, the authors report that this line of scientific research has led nowhere, and that future research, if any, will forever be constrained by the scientific limitations that they outline in their article. They conclude:
</p><p>
<div style="margin: 15px">
“Where does this leave us? God may indeed exist and prayer may indeed heal; however, it appears that, for important theological and scientific reasons, <b>randomized controlled studies cannot be applied to the study of the efficacy of prayer in healing</b>. In fact, no form of scientific inquiry presently available can suitably address the subject. Therefore, the continuance of such research may result in the conducted studies finding place among other seemingly impeccable studies with seemingly absurd claims...”
</p><p>
“The aim of science is not to open a door to infinite wisdom but to set a limit to infinite error.” Bertolt Brecht, from the play: <i>The life of Galileo</i>.
</div>
</p><p>
One scientist proposed a study with a clear cut endpoint, prayer would result in the regrowth of an amputated limb. His thought was that this is something that can only be done by a power outside our physical world. He suggests if all the amputees in the world were gathered and prayed for over the course of a year, and monitored and tracked in a scientific fashion, if just one limb grew back, it would be proof.
</p><p>
But would it really? I think not! In <a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/mat/12/9/s_941009">Matt 12: 9-14 (NIV)</a> the miracle of the man with a shriveled hand shows Jesus miraculously restoring the hand back to normal and the Pharisees not only did not believe, they went out afterwards and plotted how they might kill Jesus! I am sure the same would be true with the amputee study, it would be claimed as trickery or as a random though extremely rare event, unrelated to an act of God. There would be many who would not believe in this, nor any evidence that could be presented, that God exists.
</p><p>
Mankind has been praying since Adam and Eve. And though we may never be able to scientifically establish that God actually hears our prayers, recent scientific research suggests that prayer may be very beneficial.
</p><p>
In an entry in his <i>Psychology Today</i> blog in June of 2014, Clay Routledge, Ph.D. identifies:
</p><p>
“Five Scientifically Supported Benefits of Prayer”
</p><p>
<ol>
<li>Prayer improves self-control
<li>Prayer makes you nicer
<li>Prayer makes you more forgiving
<li>Prayer increases trust
<li>Prayer offsets the negative health effects of stress
</ol>
</p><p>
These benefits are focused on how we relate with one another in an increasingly complex and stressful world. Although not specifically religious, they are valuable traits that help us live a better life. But in addition to these, the secular, religious and medical literature is abounding in extemporaneous examples of healings and answered prayer.
</p><p>
Just as physicians use individual case studies from the literature as a source for evidence of a new treatment or for alternative uses for older medications or procedures, so too can these examples be used as evidence for the power of prayer. Prayer may not be stated as the reason for the successful treatment or healing but when a spontaneous cure comes about, many times it is accompanied by prayer.
</p><p>
Could we take the experiment proposed above for amputees and turn it around? Might this be a better study? A review of the medical literature could be done to find “miraculous” healings – unexplained by expected science (or any physician could submit them), and then these cases could be examined to see if the subject of the “miraculous” healing prayed or was prayed for during their illness. I would suspect that most would have had prayer involved in the process but would skeptics be convinced? Most likely, as with the other experiment, the results would be brushed off as meaningless since, as stated above, 50% of all people pray daily and 75% consider prayer an important part of their lives. Just these sheer numbers make it improbable that prayer would NOT have been involved.
</p><p>
I am sure most of us who routinely pray or have friends who do so can expound on a story or two (or more!) of answered prayer. If the walls within the many prayer rooms and churches worldwide could speak, the stories would be endless.
</p><p>
To say that God does not answer prayers is like saying that He does not exist or He did not create the Universe. Although the proof does not neatly fit within the scientific worldview, I think the anecdotal evidence is overwhelming. Just as “the heavens declare the glory of God..." (<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/psa/19/1/s_497001">Psalm 19:1 (NIV)</a>), the sheer number of healings and miracles seen in the Bible (the words “pray” and “prayer” occur 259 times in the NIV) and in our world today declare that God hears His people when they pray!
</p><p>
<div style="margin: 15px">
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/mat/21/22/s_950022">Matthew 21:22 (NIV)</a> - If you believe, you will receive <b>whatever you ask for in prayer</b>.
</div>
</p><p>
<div style="margin: 15px">
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/rom/12/12/s_1058012">Romans 12:12 (NIV)</a> - Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, <b>faithful in prayer</b>.
</div>
</p><p>
<div style="margin: 15px">
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/phl/4/6/s_1107006">Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)</a> - Be anxious for nothing, <b>but in everything by prayer and supplication</b>, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
</div>
</p><p>
<div style="margin: 15px">
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/jas/5/15/s_1151015">James 5:15-16 (NKJV)</a> - And the <b>prayer of faith will save the sick</b>, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. <b>The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.</b>
</div>
</p>
<! --
=============================================
References:
Indian J Psychiatry. 2009 Oct-Dec; 51(4): 247–253.
doi: 10.4103/0019-5545.58288
PMCID: PMC2802370
Prayer and healing: A medical and scientific perspective on randomized controlled trials
Chittaranjan Andrade, Professor of Psychopharmacology and Rajiv Radhakrishnan, Research Officer1
http://www.indianjpsychiatry.org/article.asp?issn=0019-5545;year=2009;volume=51;issue=4;spage=247;epage=253;aulast=Andrade
===========================================
Clay Routledge, Ph.D., is a professor of psychology at North Dakota State University.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/more-mortal/201603/science-reveals-the-benefits-prayer
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/more-mortal/201406/5-scientifically-supported-benefits-prayer
=========================================
-->
God's Chemistry Sethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395978295675996565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3751368798332947932.post-28002016759530116442017-12-17T19:50:00.000-08:002017-12-17T19:50:39.980-08:00Christmas and the Three Kings - Revisited<!-- Discuss the three kings and gold frankincense and myrrh.
A Christmas Surprise:
Who Were the Magi?
by Chuck Missler
http://www.khouse.org/articles/2003/497/
https://www.blueletterbible.org/audio_video/popPlayer.cfm?id=3232
-->
<p>
Several years back I published two blog entries about Christmas, more specifically about the Three Kings and their gifts. I am sharing them again, together, below. But before you jump down, I want to address the first blog and discuss the information I gave there. I talk about the "Magi" and how they may have known of the coming of the Messiah because of Daniel. Daniel was made the administrator over all of the Wise Men (Magi means Wise Men) of Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar:
</p><p>
<div style="margin: 20px">
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/dan/2/48/s_852048">Daniel 2:48 NIV</a> "Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and <b>chief administrator over all the Wise Men of Babylon.</b>"
</div>
</p><p>
So it is possible that the "Kings" coming to see Jesus were really wise men from Babylon, who learned of His coming through the teachings of Daniel many years earlier.
</p><p>
Ok, so far so good. But in the next paragraph I say that the vision of the 70 weeks from <a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/dan/9/1/s_859001">Daniel 9</a> points to the "<b>birth</b>" of the Messiah and that is why the three Kings knew to follow the star.
</p><p>
<div style="margin: 20px">
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/dan/9/25/s_859025">Daniel 9:25 NKJV</a> "Know therefore and understand, [That] from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem <b>until Messiah the Prince</b>, [There shall be] seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times."
</div>
</p><p>
But that is not what <a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/dan/9/25/s_859025">Daniel 9:25</a> says. It says "from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem <b>until Messiah the Prince</b>, [There shall be] seven weeks and sixty-two weeks..."
</p><p>
If you look at this verse more closely, it says there will be 69 weeks (of years? = 483 years) from the command to rebuild Jerusalem until the Messiah is proclaimed as Prince or King. So it most likely was not the arrival of the Magi that happened per <a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/dan/9/1/s_859001">Daniel 9</a> but possibly the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem as described in the Gospels, where the people called out “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!"
</p><p>
Now this day has been calculated by some to be the date April 6, 32 AD, which also happened to be the 10th of Nisan on the Jewish calendar, the day when the Passover lamb was chosen for the sacrifice. If we count back from this date 483 years (360 day years) we land on March 14, 445 BC which is suspected to be the day that Artaxerxes Longimanus issued a decree to rebuild Jerusalem, thus matching <a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/dan/9/25/s_859025">Daniel 9:25</a>.
</p><p>
However, not everyone agrees with this date or this decree since several decrees were issued prior to this, most notably that of Cyrus in 538 BC, but the decree of Ataxerxes was the only one to allow the rebuilding of the walls of the city. Another date given for Atarxerxes' decree is March 5, 444 BC.
</p><p>
Also, why was the time split into 7 weeks of years and 62 weeks? It is suspected that the 7 weeks was the time required to rebuild the city.
</p><p>
Now there are many interpretations of these dates and times as well as what constitutes a year and the "end" of the 69 weeks of years. Issues come with using a prophetic calendar year (360 days) or a current calendar year (365) plus leap years (different for Jewish calendars verses the accepted calendar of today). Next, there are four possible "decrees" that could establish the starting date - from Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes.
</p><p>
Also, the time period is questioned in why is it divided into 7 + 62 + 1? Could there be different time periods in each and not literally 7 years for each week? Finally, what constitutes the endpoint of the 69 weeks? Is it the Triumphal Entry, or the baptism by John at the start of Jesus' public ministry or is it His birth as I mentioned in the earlier blog entry?
</p><p>
I think all of this creates a fascinating study into one of the greatest prophesies of the Old Testament. Like many of the Old Testament prophesies we may never know the answer in this life!
</p><p>
We commemorate the manifestation of Christ to the gentiles in the persons of the Magi on the Twelfth-day of Christmas - January 6. It is called the Epiphany.
</p><p>
====================================================================
<div style="color:#dd0000; font-family:Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 22px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal;">We Three Kings of Orient Are... Or Were They?</div>
</p><p>
At Christmas we sing the carol: "We three Kings of Orient are..."<br />
<div align="center">We three Kings of Orient are<br />
Bearing gifts we traverse afar<br />
Field and fountain, moor and mountain<br />
Following yonder Star</div>
</p><p>
But were they Kings? Were there just three? Did they come from the Orient? Did they really follow a star? Did they bring Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh? We talked of Gold in the <a href="hhttps://godschemistryset.blogspot.com/2011/12/are-those-metals-really-precious.html">last blog</a> being the metal of Kings. So what are the other two? Over the next few blogs we will look at the three Kings, the three Gifts and the three Destinies of Jesus.
</p><p>
So what about the three Kings? The Bible calls them Wise Men, not Kings. The word for Wise Men in the Greek is <b><i>magos</i></b>, where we get the term Magi. Were there three? The Bible does not say how many came. It speaks of three Gifts but those Gifts could have been brought by one or many. Magos is a plural noun so there was most likely more than one. It is also unlikely that they would travel so far in such a small group.
</p><p>
<img align="right" hspace="10" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1b/Brooklyn_Museum_-_The_Magi_Journeying_%28Les_rois_mages_en_voyage%29_-_James_Tissot_-_overall.jpg" vspace="5" width="288" />The Bible says the Magi came from the East. But does the East mean the Orient? The Bible does not say the Orient specifically, just from the East. The word <i>magos</i>, however, was a name given to teachers, astrologers, seers and interpreters of dreams by the Babylonians (Chaldeans), Medes and Persians. This could put the Wise Men as coming from Babylon (east of Bethlehem) where Daniel had been in captivity almost 500 years earlier. Daniel was made the ruler of the Wise Men in that day when he interpreted the King's dream. (<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/dan/2/1/s_852001">Daniel 2</a>)<br />
<div style="margin: 20px">
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/dan/2/48/s_852048">Daniel 2:48</a> "Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief administrator over all the <b>Wise Men</b> of Babylon. (NKJV)"
</div>
<hr width="90%" /><div style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><b>The Wise Men knew when the Messiah</b></span><b><br />
<span style="font-size: 130%;">was to be born and watched for His Star</span></b></div><hr width="90%" /><br />
A number of years later Daniel remembered that God had said the Jews would be in captivity for 70 years, a time that was nearing completion, and he set himself to pray to God to keep His covenant. The Angel Gabriel came in response to his prayer and prophesied the birth of the Messiah in 69 weeks (of years) from the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. The 69 weeks of years would mean 483 years from the rebuilding of the Temple the Messiah would be born, precisely the time when the Magi arrived following the star. Could it be because of Daniel and this prophesy that the Magi knew of the star that would point them to the birthplace of Jesus? (<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/dan/9/1/s_859001">Daniel 9</a>)<br />
<div style="margin: 20px">
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/dan/9/25/s_859025">Daniel 9:25</a> "Know therefore and understand, [That] from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, [There shall be] seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street shall be built again, and the wall, Even in troublesome times. (NKJV)"
</div>
And the Star? Was it a real star or something else? The website <a href="http://www.bethlehemstar.com/">Star of Bethlehem</a> describes in detail one possible explanation - a conjugation of the star Regulus and the planet Jupiter with cameos by the sun and the new moon. It is an intriguing, scientific study of how these celestial bodies could have moved together to point the way to the birthplace of the Messiah. <br />
<div style="margin: 20px">
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/mat/2/9/s_931009">Matthew 2:9-10</a> "When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. <sup>10</sup> When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. (NKJV)"
</div>
And the Three Gifts? What do they mean? They signify the three Destinies of Christ - King, Priest and Savior.<br />
<div style="margin: 20px">
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/mat/2/11/s_931011">Matthew 2:11</a> "And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (NKJV)"
</div>
We will examine the Gifts and Christ's destiny in the next blog.
</p><p>
====================================================================
<div style="color:#dd0000; font-family:Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: 22px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal;">Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh - King, Priest and Savior</div>
</p><p>
In our <a href="http://godschemistryset.blogspot.com/2011/12/we-three-kings-of-orient-are-or-were.html">last blog</a>, we talked about the <a href="http://www.bethlehemstar.com/">Star of Bethlehem</a>, the Wise Men, and the three Gifts they brought to Jesus - Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. So what were these gifts and why did the Wise Men choose them to give?
</p><p>
We know that <a href="http://godschemistryset.blogspot.com/2011/12/are-those-metals-really-precious.html">Gold is the metal of Kings</a> as was mentioned in a previous blog. It was, and still is, a precious metal due to its relative scarcity, its unusual color and lustre, and its malleability. It is well suited for ornamentation and decoration in art or jewelry and for signifying wealth, things important to kings and princes (and princesses!). The Magi brought Gold to recognize Jesus' kingship.
</p><p>
<div style="margin: 20px">
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/mat/2/1/s_931001">Matthew 2:1-2</a> - "After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem <sup>2</sup> and asked, "Where is the one who has been born <b>King of the Jews</b>? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him. (NIV)"
</p><p>
</div>
How about Frankincense? Frankincense is an aromatic resin obtained from trees of the genus Boswellia. The trees are striped and the resin exudes and dries into pearls that are then harvested. The pearls are burned as incense in a fire to release the fragrance of the resin. Frankincense was an important part of the Temple service in Jerusalem. The incense was burned by the priest as part of the offering.
</p><p>
<img align="right" hspace="10" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/Myrcen.svg/235px-Myrcen.svg.png" vspace="5" width="117" />The essential oil of Frankincense, produced by steam distillation of the tree resin, contains <b>monoterpenes</b>, sesquiterpenes, monoterpenoles, sesquiterpenols, and ketones. Terpenes are a class of molecules that typically contain either ten or fifteen carbon atoms built from a five-carbon building block called isoprene. These are volatile aromatic hydrocarbon esters used in incense and perfumes. Frankincense has a good balsamic and sweet fragrance. Many terpenes such as menthol (found in throat lozenges) and camphor also have medicinal values.
</p><p>
<div style="margin: 20px">
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/exo/30/34/s_80034">Exodus 30:34-35</a> - "Then the LORD said to Moses, Take fragrant spices--gum resin, onycha and galbanum--and pure frankincense, all in equal amounts, <sup>35</sup> and make a fragrant blend of incense, the work of a perfumer. It is to be salted and pure and sacred. (NIV)"
</p><p>
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/lev/6/15/s_96015">Leviticus 6:15</a> - "He shall take from it his handful of the fine flour of the grain offering, with its oil, and all the frankincense which [is] on the grain offering, and shall burn [it] on the altar [for] a sweet aroma, as a memorial to the LORD. (NKJV)"
</p><p>
</div>
Frankincense, which was often burned, symbolized prayer rising to the heavens like smoke. The Magi brought Frankincense to acknowledge the holiness or divinity of Jesus, our Divine High Priest.
</p><p>
Myrrh is a reddish resin that comes from the species Commiphora myrrha, a plant native to northeast Africa and the adjacent areas of the Arabian Peninsula. It is gathered in the same fashion as Frankincense, as pearls of dried resin from striping the tree. Myrrh is an aromatic oleoresin consisting of sterols and volatile oils. It can also be found in a liquid form. So valuable was it at times in ancient history that, ounce for ounce, it was more costly than gold. Because Myrrh was used in the embalming or anointing of the dead, it came to represent mortality, suffering, and sorrow.
</p><p>
The Magi brought Myrrh to symbolize the hardship, suffering and death that Christ would endure as our Savior.
</p><p>
<hr width="90%" />
<div style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b>Jesus Christ, the Messiah</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b>Our King, Priest and Savior!</b></span>
</div>
<hr width="90%" /><br />
Thus these three gifts foretell of the three destinies of Jesus - King, Priest and Savior. Jesus came 2000 years ago as our pure and spotless lamb of God, offered up for us on a cross, a Savior for us, dying for the forgiveness of our sins. Myrrh symbolized His impending death.
</p><p>
<div style="margin: 20px">
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/1pe/1/18/s_1152018">1 Peter 1:18a-19</a> - "Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things,... <sup>19</sup> but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. (NKJV)"
</p><p>
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/jhn/19/39/s_1016039">John 19:39-40</a> - "And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of <b>myrrh</b> and aloes, about a hundred pounds. <sup>40</sup> Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. (NKJV)"
</div>
</p><p>
He is now our Great High Priest in heaven, interceding for us with His Father. Frankincense symbolized His Priesthood and prayers for us. </p><p>
<div style="margin: 20px">
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/lev/2/2/s_92002">Leviticus 2:2</a> - "He shall bring it to Aaron's sons, the priests, one of whom shall take from it his handful of fine flour and oil with all the <b>frankincense</b>. And the priest shall burn [it as] a memorial on the altar, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the LORD. (NKJV)"
</div>
</p><p>
Gold symbolized His Kingship. He will return as a King, ruling and reigning over the Earth in the millennium that follows His return.
</p><p>
<div style="margin: 20px">
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/luk/1/31/s_974031">Luke 1:31-33</a> - "And behold, you [Mary] will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. <sup>32</sup> He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. <sup>33</sup> And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end. (NKJV)"
</div>
</p><p>
<b>He is coming soon!</b>
</p>
God's Chemistry Sethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395978295675996565noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3751368798332947932.post-56857934310068714502017-10-26T10:17:00.001-07:002021-07-21T20:04:11.230-07:00The Chemistry of Matter & Vibration<p>
A few weeks ago I was invited to talk at my church on a selection of verses from the Gospel of John. I chose the first three verses as my focus. I then expounded on them in relation to God - Jesus - as the Word or Logos, looking at it from a scientific point of view. I am taking part of that sermon and sharing it here with you, my blog followers. Hope you will find it interesting and thought provoking.
</p><p>
<div style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;">======================================================</div>
</p><p>
Today we will look at the Gospel of John. I want to focus on the just the first three verses of the Prologue, where John identifies Jesus as the Logos or the Word.
</p><p>
John calls Jesus the “Word” or in the Greek the “Logos”. So what is the Logos? It is more than a spoken word, or written word. The “Logos” is that part of God that spoke the world into existence - all and everything that sums up the Universe and everything in it - matter and energy, life and death, thought and reason.
</p><p>
<div style="margin: 15px">
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/jhn/1/1/s_998001">John 1:1-3 (NIV)</a> - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. <sup>2</sup>He was with God in the beginning. <sup>3</sup>Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
</div>
</p><p>
In these first three verses John says that Jesus:
<ul>
<li><b>Was the Logos</b>
<ul style="list-style-type:circle"><li>As God He spoke us into existence and as a man spoke to us during His life (as we have recorded in the Gospels).
</ul>
<li><b>He was WITH God</b>
<ul style="list-style-type:circle"><li>He was with God in the beginning, that is, <b>He always existed! – He was not created by God</b> (He is the God-man not just a good man).
</ul>
<li><b>He WAS God</b>
<ul style="list-style-type:circle"><li>God and the Logos are not two beings, and yet they are also not simply identical. Jesus said: "I and the Father are one" (<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/jhn/10/30/s_1007030">John 10:30 NIV</a>) and also, "...the Father is greater than I." (<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/jhn/14/28/s_1011028">John 14:28b NIV</a>).
</ul>
<li><b>Through Him all things were made (created)</b>
<ul style="list-style-type:circle"><li>Reaffirms that Jesus was active (and probably took, and still takes, the lead role) in the creation.
</ul></ul>
</p><p>
So now let’s take a look at these three verses in connection with several other verses that speak to God’s creative power. Any of you that were here the last time I spoke, you know that I like Science and the Bible. So I can’t speak here without some connection between John’s opening verses and current scientific facts.
</p><p>
So let’s now look at Genesis, Colossians and Hebrews:
</p><p>
<div style="margin: 15px">
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/gen/1/1/s_1001">Genesis 1:1-3 (NIV)</a> - In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. <sup>2</sup>Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. <sup>3</sup>And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
</p><p>
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/col/1/15/s_1108015">Colossians 1:15-17 (NIV)</a> - The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. <sup>16</sup>For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. <sup>17</sup>He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
</p><p>
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/heb/1/3/s_1134003">Hebrews 1:3a (NIV)</a> - The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his (God’s) being, sustaining all things by his powerful Word.
</div>
</p><p>
<b>So, what do these verses tell us?</b>
</p><p>
<ul>
<li>God speaks creation into existence with His Word.
<li>In John, Jesus is called “The Word” and in Genesis Jesus spoke the universe into existence.
<li>God uses His “voice” to make the world. It is through His spoken word that the world was created.
<li>It is through God’s Word (Jesus) all things were made and by His Word (Jesus) all things are held together.
<li>Jesus sustains all things by his powerful word.
</ul>
</p><p>
These words were spoken thousands of years ago. What do we know about the world today that relates to these ideas?
</p><p>
Science has told us that matter, everything in the physical world, is made up of smaller and smaller particles. When I was in school it was molecules, atoms, protons, neutrons, electrons and...?
</p><p>
As an example, an atom looks something like this (Helium):
</p><p>
<table border="0"><tr><td><a href="https://skullsinthestars.com/2014/04/11/how-many-quarks-would-a-charm-quark-charm-if-a-charm-quark-could-charm-quarks/"><img width="384" hspace="5" vspace="5" align="left" src="https://skullsinthestars.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/helium.jpg"/></a>
</td>
<td valign="top" rowspan=2>
</p><p>Although shown as motionless on an orbit, in reality the electrons are moving rapidly (at the speed of light) around the nucleus (the protons & neutrons). An Atom is actually a blur, like a cloud, and is in reality 99.99999% empty space.
</td></tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="https://skullsinthestars.com/2014/04/11/how-many-quarks-would-a-charm-quark-charm-if-a-charm-quark-could-charm-quarks/">Source: Skulls in the Stars Blog</a></td>
</tr></table>
</p><p>
Now today, we can go even deeper.
</p><p>
An electron cannot be broken down but the protons and neutrons can. Almost all the matter or mass (think e=mc<sup>2</sup> – everything is either mass or energy) of anything physical is in the protons & neutrons of its atoms.
</p><p>
Speaking at the sub-atomic level (smaller than an atom), matter - protons & neutrons - consists primarily of particles called quarks, anti-quarks and gluons and is regulated by the strong nuclear force (a form of energy). The strong nuclear force is the force that holds protons and neutrons together in the nucleus. At the sub-atomic level, matter and energy are in constant flux (changing back and forth between the different forms).
</p><p>
If we take one of the Protons or Neutrons (together called Nucleons) we see in an atom and look much closer, they look something like this:
</p><p>
<table border="0"><tr><td valign="top" rowspan=2>
</p><p>An image of protons and neutrons as full of quarks, anti-quarks and gluons. A proton consists of two up quarks and one down quark plus many gluons (g) plus many quark/anti-quark pairs (u, d, s stand for up, down and strange quarks; anti-quarks are marked with a bar.)
</td>
<td><a href="https://profmattstrassler.com/articles-and-posts/particle-physics-basics/the-structure-of-matter/protons-and-neutrons/"><img width="384" hspace="5" vspace="5" align="right" src="https://profmattstrassler.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/nucleons31.png"/></a>
</td>
</tr><tr><td align="center"><a href="https://profmattstrassler.com/articles-and-posts/particle-physics-basics/the-structure-of-matter/protons-and-neutrons/">Source: Professor Matt Strassler's Blog</a></td>
</tr></table>
</p><p>
The protons and neutrons are full of quarks, anti-quarks and gluons, moving around at high speed (basically the speed of light) inside the proton or neutron. Protons & neutrons are also somewhat like an electron cloud, without all the empty space.
</p><p>
The mass (or matter - think weight though not exactly the same thing) of a proton or a neutron - and thus the mass of an atom, a molecule, a substance and a being, comes from this chaos (the constant, crazy movement and changes happening to the quarks and gluons) going on inside a proton or neutron. The mass does not come from the nucleons themselves (think energy not substance).
</p><p>
OK. I know it is confusing but it’s important to take a moment to let all this sink in.
</p><p>
<hr width="90%" />
<div style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b>The Mass of Everything</b></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b>Comes from the Vibration Within</b></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b>The Protons & Neutrons of Its Atoms</b></span><br>
</div>
<hr width="90%" />
</p><p>
<b>How amazing and awesome is this!</b> Almost all of the mass found in all the things around us (and in us!) is that of the protons and neutrons within its/our atoms...
</p><p>
And most of that mass...
</p><p>
Comes from the vibrational-energy of a proton’s or neutron’s quarks and gluons, and from the interactional-energy (also a vibration) of the strong nuclear forces that hold those protons or neutrons together.
</p><p>
The whole creation around us, our physical being, our very breath are what they are as a result of an internal, imperceptible turbulence of constant energetic vibration, the vibration of the fundamental parts of an atom’s nucleus!
</p><p>
As we continue to drill deeper into the center of the atom, we have discovered that when you get to matter at the smallest level it is almost as if there is nothing there except vibrations. When we talked about the Big Bang we said “First there was nothing and then it exploded.” When talking about matter we can almost say “<b>There’s nothing there and it’s vibrating!</b>”
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large_Hadron_Collider"><img width="256" hspace="5" vspace="5" align="left" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/46/Views_of_the_LHC_tunnel_sector_3-4%2C_tirage_2.jpg"/></a>
</p><p>
So Scientists have spent millions of dollars to build a sub-atomic particle accelerator (Large Hadron Collider) where they accelerate nucleons at crazy high speeds and crash them into each other so that they can see what is left when they break apart. And what have they found? At the heart of it all is a vibration!
</p><p>
So hold that thought for a moment.
</p><p>
Now there is another way to think about vibration. Vibration is the essential foundation of sound. When a note is played on the piano it makes a sound because of the vibration of the strings. When you speak, you make a sound because of the vibration of your vocal cords. The sounds we hear are actually vibrations which cause our eardrums to vibrate which our brains then interpret and give meaning to. My voice is a vibration which your brain makes sense of. (I hope!!!)
</p><p>
Now sound as we know it does not travel through a vacuum, such as space, but there are electromagnetic waves, or vibrations, emitted by the sun and planets that have the same frequencies (rate of vibration) as the sounds that the human ear can hear.
</p><p>
And NASA captured these background electromagnetic vibrations with instruments on the Voyager spacecraft and has converted them into sounds of the same wavelength. Here is a sample of what the earth sounds like:
</p><p>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bnU6K1y468">NASA Recording of Earth Sounds - YouTube</a>
</p><p>
So picture this... in the beginning God’s voice spoke out and it reverberated into the nothingness that was there, and His voice, His Word, the vibration of the sound of His voice, actually took on physical characteristics. It became something visible, something more than simply a spoken word. It became matter, energy and light. And His voice continued to ring out, and continues to ring out still, holding all things together by His powerful Word!
</p><p>
The vibration at the base of all matter in the universe is the sound of God’s voice, His Word, continuing to ring through all creation!
</p><p>
So where do we go from here?
</p><p>
We must realize that Jesus (as man) is GOD in the flesh and how absolutely overwhelming it is that He would love us so much that he would create a world for us and then come into that world to save us. If He can do all this for us, we should desire to share Him with those that do not know Him. We cannot keep our faith a secret.
</p><p>
We know that all things are possible with God. The Logos (Jesus) spoke us into existence, He holds us together and redeems us by His Word, and ultimately calls us to be with Him (and the Father) in heaven.
</p><p>
He is faithful! His Word is True!
</p><p>
<div style="margin: 15px">
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/heb/13/8/s_1146008">Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)</a> - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
</div>
</p><p>
AMEN? <b>AMEN!</b>
</p><p>
<!--
References:
Logos - (https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G3056&t=NIV)
https://profmattstrassler.com/articles-and-posts/particle-physics-basics/the-structure-of-matter/protons-and-neutrons
https://skullsinthestars.com/2014/04/11/how-many-quarks-would-a-charm-quark-charm-if-a-charm-quark-could-charm-quarks/
-->
God's Chemistry Sethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395978295675996565noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3751368798332947932.post-12670562422432859712017-09-25T11:05:00.000-07:002017-09-25T11:05:55.457-07:00Carbon Dating - The Chemistry of Carbon-14<p>
I was running around doing errands a couple of weeks ago and I decided to drop into the local Chick-fil-A for lunch. I waited my turn in line and then the young cashier called me up to her window. She said, "Welcome to Chick-fil-A." Now I think I look young for my age but; and then she said, "Hi, what would you like in your order today?" But I definitely am in THAT age group. So then she took my order and when she handed me my receipt I saw it. She had given me the "Senior Discount!" I did not even need to ask! Now I was glad to get my 10% off but it made me think... Was it my graying at the temples, or my dewlap, or my crow's feet that gave away my age?
</p><p>
The cashier used her deductive reasoning skills to assess my age and determined that I must be over 60, hence the Senior Discount. Scientists do the same thing when determining the age of plants or animals found in the fossil record. Particularly, they use carbon dating to determine the approximate age of organic materials that are considered to be less than 50,000 years old, the practical limit of this type of test.
</p><p>
<table border="0"><tr><td><a href=""><img width="336" hspace="5" vspace="5" align="left" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/1_MV_accelerator_mass_spectrometer.jpg"/></a>
</td>
<td valign="top" rowspan=2>
The system of carbon dating has been around for about 100 years. It is sometimes called Radiocarbon Dating and depends on the rate of decay of one isotope of Carbon, Carbon-14. Carbon has 15 known isotopes, ranging from Carbon-8 to carbon-22. Only two are stable (carbon-12 - the most common, and carbon-13) and, of all the rest, only carbon-14 has a half-life of more than just a few seconds.
</td></tr><tr><td align="center">Accelerator Mass Spectrometer - to detect Carbon-14</td>
</tr></table>
</p><p>
All elements have what are called isotopes. An element is an atom with a set number of protons defining that specific element. For carbon that number is six protons. An isotope is each of two or more forms of the same element that contain equal numbers of protons but different numbers of neutrons in their nuclei, and hence differ in relative atomic mass but not in chemical properties. Some isotopes are stable, such as carbon-12, and others, carbon-14 in particular, are radioactive forms of an element. Radioactive isotopes can release electromagnetic radiation or particle radiation to become stable. Particle radiation includes alpha and beta particles as well as proton and neutron radiation. Carbon-14 emits an electron and an electron antineutrino, converting one of the neutrons in the carbon-14 atom into a proton and thereby changing the carbon-14 into the stable isotope nitrogen-14.
</p><p>
Carbon-14's half-life is about 5700 years, making it a good marker for items up to that 50,000 year limit we mentioned earlier. After about 50,000 years, almost all carbon-14 will be gone from a given fossil specimen once no more can be adsorbed. Once all the carbon-14 is gone, at about 50,000 years, the specimen can no longer be dated by this method.
</p><p>
<hr width="90%" />
<div style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b>Carbon-14 Dating</b></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b>Helps Us Validate the Bible</b></span><br>
</div>
<hr width="90%" />
</p><p>
Carbon is often considered as the foundation of life. Many molecules containing carbon, when bonded with hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen, are considered organic and are part of the makeup of planets and animals. After water, carbon would be considered as an essential element in molecules discovered in the search for extraterrestrial life. I wrote about carbon in a previous blog post, "<a href="http://godschemistryset.blogspot.com/2011/08/gods-favorite-elements.html">Gods Favorite Elements</a>".
</p><p>
So how does carbon dating work? The interaction of cosmic rays with atmospheric nitrogen is constantly creating carbon-14. This carbon then combines with atmospheric oxygen to form radioactive carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>). The resulting carbon-14 carrying CO<sub>2</sub> is incorporated into plant molecules by photosynthesis and animals then acquire it by eating the plants. The amount of carbon-14 in the animal or plant continues to remain steady with the environment, until that plant or animal dies. Accumulation of the carbon-14 into the organism then stops and the amount of carbon-14 it contains begins to decrease as the carbon-14 undergoes radioactive decay. Measuring the amount of carbon-14 in a sample from a plant or animal fossil provides information that can be used to calculate when the organism died. The older a sample is, the less carbon-14 there is to be detected.
</p><p>
But it is not as simple as comparing the amount of carbon-14 in the fossil to a chart and getting its age. Presuming the rate of production of carbon-14 to be constant, the activity of a sample can be directly compared to the equilibrium activity of current living matter and the age calculated. But is the production of carbon-14 constant? Years of work were required to develop the technique to the point where accurate dates could be obtained. Research has been ongoing since the 1960s to determine what the proportion of carbon-14 in the atmosphere has been over the past fifty thousand years. The resulting data, in the form of a calibration curve, is now used to convert a given measurement of carbon-14 in a sample into an estimate of the sample's calendar age.
</p><p>
But this calibration curve is also impacted by other factors - different types of organisms can have varying levels of carbon-14, burning of fossil fuels in the past 100 years has decreased the amount of carbon-14 in the atmosphere and nuclear tests in the past 50 years have added to it. So carbon dating may not work so well in the future. Carbon dating can be validated by other methods so the curve is constantly being refined. The use of various radioisotopes (along with carbon-14) allows the dating of biological and geological samples with a high degree of accuracy. But anything that died after the 1900s, when fossil fuels and open-air nuclear tests started changing carbon-14 concentrations, will be harder to precisely date.
</p><p>
Another possible problem with this dating method is the existence of carbon-14 in geological samples that are said to be millions of years old. In 1997 one group of scientists started a study of coal and diamond samples, previously tested by other means to be in the millions of years old, and therefore should contain no carbon-14. All of their samples, according to their tests, contained detectable levels of carbon-14 and thus would rate much younger by this method. They claim this shows proof of a young earth. Could this prove that earth is only about 10,000 years old?
</p><p>
The study of the age of fossils and geological materials does require some assumptions that makes their accuracy questionable but in the past 50+ years of development, scientists now have a remarkable understanding of most if not all of carbon dating's subtleties and complexities. Carbon dating is a powerful tool in helping us understand the history of our world and all of God's creation on it. Carbon dating provides another source of evidence that the Bible accurately describes the record of mankind.
</p><p>
<div style="margin: 15px">
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/isa/46/4/s_725004">Isaiah 46:4 (NIV)</a> - Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.
</p><p>
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/job/36/26/s_472026">Job 36:26 (NIV)</a> - How great is God—beyond our understanding! The number of his years is past finding out.
</div>
</p>
<!--
References:
Who, what, where, when, why and how
http://godschemistryset.blogspot.com/2011/08/gods-favorite-elements.html
http://godschemistryset.blogspot.com/2011/10/period-i-ii-elements-some-interesting.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiocarbon_dating
http://hyperphysics.gsu.edu/hbase/Nuclear/cardat.html
The Earth Through Time, 2nd Ed. by Harold L. Levin
http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geology/carbon-14.htm
https://answersingenesis.org/geology/carbon-14/doesnt-carbon-14-dating-disprove-the-bible/
-->
God's Chemistry Sethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395978295675996565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3751368798332947932.post-65647469451455922602017-08-29T11:22:00.001-07:002021-07-21T20:11:28.054-07:00Total Solar Eclipse – Coincidence or Design?<p>
My daily driver is a 2005 Toyota Prius with over 180,000 miles on it. What were the odds that the odometer would read 100,000 miles? About 1 out of 180,000, the same as they are for any number in that range. Why would I then pull over and take a picture of the odometer when it hit 100,000? Because it is a significant number in my mind, a milestone, a rare event.
</p><p>
The same is true for the solar eclipse we just witnessed on August 21st. The moon goes around the earth once every 28 days, yet we view a full moon as special and a solar eclipse as spectacular. The moon is between the earth and the sun, casting its shadow 13 times a year but only a couple of times a year does that shadow strike the surface and only once in the last century did that shadow cross the earth in a way that was so visible by so many.
</p><p>
<a href="https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/goddard/2017/solar-eclipse-from-greenville-sc"><img width="384" hspace="5" vspace="5" align="right" src="https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/totality-greenville-sc-21-aug-2017-jeletic.png"/></a>
A solar eclipse happens two or three times a year on average and less than a third of these are total eclipses. Of those that are total, much of the eclipse is usually over water or in scarcely populated areas so when one occurs like this it is a major event, both publicly and scientifically. An eclipse like this will not cross the United States again until August 12, 2045 (one will pass over Texas to Maine on April 8th, 2024)!
</p><p>
For an eclipse to occur, several things must be in place. The moon must be large enough to cover the sun perfectly. It must be the right distance away, based on its size relative to the sun, and it must be in an orbit that passes directly between the sun and the earth.
</p><p>
Looking from earth, the moon is almost perfectly suited for making eclipses. The moon’s apparent size in the sky is essentially the same as that of the sun. So when the moon passes in front of the sun, the sun can be completely covered, but the corona is still visible.
</p><p>
If the sun were just a little bit bigger or the moon slightly farther away, total solar eclipses might never occur. But is this just a coincidence? Is it simply an accident of geometry that the apparent disk of the moon is almost exactly the size of the apparent disk of the sun? I think not. To me it is more like my car hitting 100,000 miles. My car was designed to drive that far and even though it seems like seeing that number on my odometer is a random occurrence, it is really a planned event, an expected happening.
</p><p>
<hr width="90%" />
<div style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b>A Total Solar Eclipse</b></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b>Is it Just a Coincidence? Or by Design?</b></span><br>
</div>
<hr width="90%" />
</p><p>
Now think about it. You can look on-line and find every eclipse for the past one thousand years and every one coming up in the next thousand. How can that be? It is because of the precise timing and motion of the planets that we can predict where they will be at any moment in history! The laws of physics can tell us where and when the sun, moon and earth will be in alignment to produce an eclipse, down to the second!
</p><p>
We know too that the moon is very, very slowly moving away from the earth so at some time in the distant future, there will be no total solar eclipses. We are living in a small window of time, relative to all creation, when these total eclipses are visible on earth.
</p><p>
We also know that the earth rotates at about 1000 miles per hour (mph) around its axis – one day. And the moon orbits the earth at about 2300 mph – a lunar month. We also know that the earth and moon orbit the sun once a year. But did you realize that the earth moves around the sun at over 66,000 mph? And did you know that the sun moves around the Milky Way galaxy at a speed of approximately 500,000 mph!
</p><p>
So what does this tell me? Although it can be explained by the science of it all, the shear magnificence of it coming together – the moon being the right size and distance from earth with an orbit that goes between us and the sun, the precise predictability of the movements of such large celestial bodies, even when they are moving at 500,000 mph through empty space and the “coincidence” of it all. It shows me the glory of God in His creation!
</p><p>
<div style="margin: 15px">
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/psa/19/1/s_497001">Psalm 19:1-2 (NIV)</a> - The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. <sup>2</sup>Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.
</p><p>
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/rom/1/20/s_1047020">Romans 1:20 (NIV)</a> - For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
</div>
</p>
God's Chemistry Sethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395978295675996565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3751368798332947932.post-48197831258297687492017-05-14T07:14:00.000-07:002017-05-14T07:14:44.958-07:00Happy Mother's Day - All We Need is Your Love - Revisited<p>
From five years ago. We cannot forget our Moms!
</p><p>
======================================================================
</p><p>
My wife and I have 5 kids (and a niece that is just like a daughter). We were blessed with the financial stability for their mom to stay at home and care for them all. All are now married with children of their own. My wife is an amazing Mom and a wonderful Grandma. I was caught up in the business of life when the kids were young and did not appreciate to the full the blessing it was for her to stay home and instruct our children. Thank you honey for all of the love and care and comfort you have brought to our family. You are truly the glue that holds us so closely together. I love you, Happy Mother's Day!
</p><p>
We all have a Mother. No matter how we remember her, when we were young (and even now) we wanted her to love us. I am sure she felt the same, loving us with all her heart and wanting us to love her as well. God knew we would need a Mom in a special way. We see in His Word His love for this most special person in all of our lives.
</p><p>
<hr width="90%" />
<div style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b>All that I am, or hope to be,</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b>I owe to my angel mother.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 100%;color: #cc0000"><b>Abraham Lincoln</b></span><br />
</div><hr width="90%" />
</p><p>
The word "Mother" appears 338 times in the Bible. God knew that He needed someone special to raise His children:<br />
<ul><li><a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Gen&c=3&v=20&t=NIV#20">Genesis 3:20 (NIV)</a> - Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the <b>mother of all the living</b>.<br />
</ul>
</p><p>
So He specially chose Moms to co-create with Him in the generation of new life within the womb:
<ul><li><a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Psa&c=139&v=13&t=NIV#13">Psalms 139:13-14a (NIV)</a> - For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my <b>mother's womb</b>. <sup>14</sup> I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.<br />
</ul>
</p><p>
He even chose the woman who would be His mother:
<ul><li><a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Luk&c=1&v=28&t=NIV#28">Luke 1:28 & 31 (NIV)</a> - The angel went to her [Mary] and said, "Greetings, you who are <b>highly favored!</b> The Lord is with you."... <sup>31</sup> You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. <br />
</ul>
</p><p>
And He listened to her and honored her during His life, and His mother treasured all that He did:
<ul><li><a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Luk&c=2&v=42&t=NIV#42">Luke 2:42, 48 & 51 (NIV)</a> - When He was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom... <sup>48</sup> When His parents saw Him, they were astonished. His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You."... <sup>51</sup> Then He went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But His mother <b>treasured all these things in her heart</b>. <br />
<li><a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Jhn&c=2&v=1&t=NIV#1">John 2:1-3,5,7,9-10 (NIV)</a> - On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, <sup>2</sup> and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. <sup>3</sup> When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to Him, "They have no more wine."... <sup>5</sup> His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever He tells you."... <sup>7</sup> Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim... <sup>9a</sup> and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine... <sup>10b</sup> ...[exclaiming] "You have saved the best till now."<br />
</ul>
</p><p>
He even took care of her in His last moments as He hung on the Cross:
<ul><li><a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Jhn&c=19&v=25&t=NIV#25">John 19:25a-27 (NIV)</a> - Near the cross of Jesus stood His mother... <sup>26</sup> When Jesus saw His mother there, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, "<b>Dear woman</b>, here is your son," <sup>27</sup> and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. <br />
</ul>And after His death, His mother continued to pray:
<ul><li><a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Act&c=1&v=14&t=NIV#14">Acts 1:14 (NIV)</a> - They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.<br />
</ul>So now we all must remember to:
<ul><li><a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Deu&c=5&v=16&t=NIV#16">Deuteronomy 5:16 (NIV)</a> - "Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you.<br />
<li><a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Pro&c=6&v=20&t=NIV#20">Proverbs 6:20b (NIV)</a> - ...and do not forsake your mother's teaching.<br />
</ul>So that "Your father and mother may be glad and may <b>she who gave you birth</b> rejoice! <a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Pro&c=23&v=25&t=NIV#25">Proverbs 23:25 (NIV)</a>.
</p><p>God's Chemistry Sethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395978295675996565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3751368798332947932.post-27580312667970671622017-04-15T22:11:00.002-07:002017-04-15T22:11:35.507-07:00Easter Revisited - The Chemistry of SalvationI posted this five years ago. Thought I would share it again. The real reason for Easter.
<p>
=====================================================================
</p>
Seeing lots of chocolate bunnies, colored eggs and jelly beans; frilly bonnets and Sunday best. Children running with baskets to find the hidden treasures left by the Easter bunny. That is the celebration which will be evident come Sunday morning but will we remember the event that is the real reason for the celebration? <br />
<br />
God came to Earth embodied in a man to save us from our sins and Easter Sunday is the remembrance of the events that did just that. This past week has seen His steps from king to blasphemer, through undeserved punishment and death and finally to the Glorious Resurrection!<br />
<br />
<hr width="90%" /><div style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><b>The Son of God</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b>Died and Rose Again</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b>To Save Us from Our Sins</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b>Because He Loved Us</b></span><br />
</div><hr width="90%" /><br />
Our lives are like that of Peter on these last days of Jesus' life, we deny Him repeatedly:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Mat&c=26&v=69&t=NIV#69">Matthew 26:69-74 (NIV)</a> - Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. "You also were with Jesus of Galilee," she said. <sup>70</sup> But he denied it before them all. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said. <sup>71</sup> Then he went out to the gateway, where another girl saw him and said to the people there, "This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth." <sup>72</sup> He denied it again, with an oath: "I don't know the man!" <sup>73</sup> After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, "Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away." <sup>74</sup> Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, "I don't know the man!" Immediately a rooster crowed. <br />
<br />
And then when we come to realize who He is, we weep bitterly over how we treated Him:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Mat&c=26&v=75&t=NIV#75">Matthew 26:75 (NIV)</a> - Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: "Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly. <br />
<br />
But Jesus forgets the transgression and only asks: "do you love Me?"<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Jhn&c=21&v=15&t=NIV#15">John 21:15-17 (NIV)</a> - When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." <sup>16</sup> Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." <sup>17</sup> The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep." <br />
<br />
His suffering, death and Resurrection served as full atonement for the sins of all men - bringing us into the light of His Salvation. And we just need to love Him, as He first loved us.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Psa&c=118&v=1&t=NIV#1">Psalm 118:1 (NIV)</a> - Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever.God's Chemistry Sethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395978295675996565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3751368798332947932.post-35129771779497804622017-03-23T11:44:00.000-07:002017-08-28T20:39:39.096-07:00Moving Forward – A Scientific Faith?<p>
So we have come to the last leg in our journey. We started out with a question - Can we believe in God and still be a scientist? Along the way we took several different steps:
</p><p>
<b>Looking Upward</b> - <a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/psa/19/1/s_497001">Psalm 19:1-2 (NIV)</a> The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. - Finding God in the universe above.
</p><p>
Here we studied the Big Bang theory, examined the probability of a rare Earth, and then focused on the possibility of life on any planet.
</p><p>
<b>Turning Outward</b> - <a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/pro/25/2/s_653002">Proverbs 25:2 (NIV)</a> It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings. - Finding God in the world around us.
</p><p>
This zoomed us in on the Earth, first taking a closer look at the sky (atmosphere) above us. Then we moved closer still and looked at some of the special features of our planet itself.
</p><p>
<b>Searching Inward</b> - <a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/psa/139/13/s_617013">Psalm 139:13-14 (NIV)</a> For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. - Finding God in the formation of the human body, and thus in life itself.
</p><p>
In this third part of the series, we defined life as best we could, examined the simplest life forms, compared Evolution and the Cambrian Explosion, dinosaurs and DNA, how complex even simple life is and how we are made in the image of God.
</p><p>
Now we move on to our last segment:
</p><p>
<b>Moving Forward</b> - <a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/eph/2/10/s_1099010">Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)</a> For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. - How do you take this to the next level - confirmation of your faith, or lack thereof. There is more to life than just "existing."
</p><p>
Those who hold that Science is the final arbiter of facts want us to believe that this is all there is, that the glorious advancement of Science will make our existence “heaven on earth” and that there is nothing beyond this life. But our belief in God give us a “hope” in our future and tells us there is more in and beyond this life if we just believe.
</p><p>
In this last segment, we will identify specific passages from the Bible that speak of scientific fact or theory before it was considered science! This will give us a basis for sharing how science and faith can co-exist, they do not have to be mutually exclusive. But in the end, we each must decide - Do we believe in the God of the Bible, and His science, or do we believe in secular science, which specifically eliminates God from the equation because His existence cannot be proven.
</p><p>
Remember, Science cannot claim that God created anything because God has to be outside of our dimensions of time and space to be able to create our universe, and science only functions within the physical universe we know. Even though God has invaded His creation, He is not physically manifested in it, as we know it scientifically. So God cannot be proven to exist in the context of science. Thus He also cannot be called on as a "proof of life" or a Creator. Science must have a reason, a physically testable reason, for the how and why something exists. God cannot be tested but He can be observed in His creation - as Paul writes in <a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/rom/1/20/s_1047020">Romans 1:20 (NIV)</a>: "For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse."
<hr width="90%" />
<div style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b>For since the creation of the world</b></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b>God’s invisible qualities</b></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b>His eternal power and divine nature</b></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b>have been clearly seen,</b></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b>being understood from what has been made,</b></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b>so that people are without excuse. </b></span><span style="font-size: 100%; color: #cc3300">- Romans 1:20 (NIV)</span></div>
<hr width="90%" />
</p><p>
But remember to “speak the truth in love (<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/eph/4/15/s_1101015">Ephesians 4:15 (NIV)</a>)” with patience, and listen to find areas of common ground when sharing with others. Do not just dump scripture on others but find out what they are thinking and help them understand the Biblical point of view. You may be surprised that you have more in common than you realize. God wants us to learn to love. We can do this by seeing how much He loves us through His Creation.
</p><p>
So now here are some specific examples from the Bible that can be used when discussing science and religion with others.
</p><p>
<b>Some of the Bible’s scientific passages</b> (Scientific concepts supported by Scripture):
</p><p>
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/gen/1/1/s_1001">Genesis 1:1</a> – In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
</p><p>
<div style="margin-left:5%">
This verse declares the Big Bang, that in the beginning the universe was created from nothing. Up until just 80 years ago, science stated that the universe was eternal, had always existed. It wasn’t until the 1930’s that the concept of the explosion of a singularity blooming into the universe, and the beginning of time, space and the physical laws was first conceived. It took until the late 1950’s for scientists even to agree on this theory. Now some are questioning it again, it seems, because it speaks of something beyond the beginning of time. This verse also shows that there was existence before the creation - God existed outside of, and before, time and physical space (the universe has a transcendent cause).
</div>
</p><p>
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/gen/1/2/s_1002">Genesis 1:2</a> – The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.
</p><p>
<div style="margin-left:5%">
Science is just now wrestling with the concept of the earth as the only source of life. Science is starting to find exoplanets, planets outside our solar system, and claiming that they may be suitable for life. But on the other hand, science is also finding specific conditions that must exist on such a planet, hundreds of them in fact, such that the earth is the only planet so far that seems to meet them all. Even then it is a wonder the earth does meet them as the odds are strongly against it, to the limits of an impossibility.</div>
</p><p>
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/gen/1/16/s_1016">Genesis 1:16</a> – God made the two great lights, the greater light to govern the day (sun), and the lesser light to govern the night (moon); He made the stars also.
</p><p>
<div style="margin-left:5%">
The sun, moon and stars do light the earth, giving day and night. All are needed to allow the possibility of life, the existence of liquid water and the proper surface temperature for survival.</div>
</p><p>
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/job/25/2/s_461002">Job 25:2</a> – Dominion and awe belong to Him who establishes peace in His heights.
</p><p>
<div style="margin-left:5%">
Science has found that all physical laws apply to the whole universe everywhere and equally (the Cosmological Principle). This shows an all-encompassing order to the universe as expressed by this verse.</div>
</p><p>
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/job/26/7/s_462007">Job 26:7, 10</a> - He stretches out the north over empty space and hangs the earth on nothing. (10) He has inscribed a circle on the surface of the waters at the boundary of light and darkness.
</p><p>
<div style="margin-left:5%">
The earth is floating in space; it is not held on the back of an elephant or resting on a pillar. It is not flat, floating above hellfire and is indeed a globe, not a pancake.</div>
</p><p>
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/isa/40/22/s_719022">Isaiah 40:22</a> – …Who stretches out the heavens like a scroll and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.
</p><p>
<div style="margin-left:5%">
God is “stretching out the heavens” like a scroll - the universe is expanding and science tells us it is “flat” (not like a sheet of paper but as described by general relativity). But it is so large that the part of the universe we can see, due to the speed of light, appears to be a sphere around the earth. In any case, the universe does not appear to be infinite.</div>
</p><p>
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/ecc/1/9/s_660009">Ecclesiastes 1:9</a> - That which has been is that which will be, and that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun.<br>
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/ecc/3/14/s_662014">Ecclesiastes 3:14-15</a> – I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should fear Him. That which is has been already and that which will be has already been, for God seeks what has passed by.
</p><p>
<div style="margin-left:5%">
These two verses speak to the conservation of mass and energy, that all that was created at the beginning is all there is and will be – nothing will be destroyed nor added to the total.</div>
</p><p>
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/ecc/1/7/s_660007">Ecclesiastes 1:7</a> - All the rivers flow into the sea, yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers flow, there they flow again.<br>
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/isa/55/10/s_734010">Isaiah 55:10</a> – For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
</p><p>
<div style="margin-left:5%">
These two verses suggest the flow of water from the sea to the sky to the rain, back to the land and into the sea again. This is the fundamental principle of the Water Cycle or Hydrological Cycle. Without this process, life here would be impossible. </div>
</p><p>
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/job/26/7/s_462007">Job 26:7</a> – He stretches out the north over empty space and hangs the earth on nothing.<br>
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/job/38/31/s_474031">Job 38:31-33</a> – Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades, or loose the cords of Orion? Can you lead forth a constellation in its season, and guide the Bear with her satellites? Do you know the ordinances of the heavens, or fix their rule over the earth?
</p><p>
<div style="margin-left:5%">
This is discussing gravity. Gravity holds the planets up on seemingly nothing. The sun “rules” over the earth (holds it in an orbit). The Pleiades and Orion are the only two constellations where the stars in them are bound by gravity to one another so they move as a unit (in the same galactic location). Other constellations appear together but some of the stars are much further away from us and only look close due to our angle of view.</div>
</p><p>
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/lev/13/45/s_103045">Leviticus 13:45-46</a> – As for the leper who has the infection, his clothes shall be torn, and the hair of his head shall be uncovered, and he shall cover his mustache and cry, “Unclean! Unclean!” He shall remain unclean all the days during which he has the infection; he is unclean. He shall live alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp.
</p><p>
<div style="margin-left:5%">
This section of Scripture speaks to the control of contagious diseases, using quarantines since there was no cure and the disease was contagious. </div>
</p><p>
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/num/19/1/s_136001">Numbers 19</a> (the whole chapter)<br>
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/deu/23/12/s_176012">Deuteronomy 23:12-13</a> – You shall also have a place outside the camp and go out there, and you shall have a spade among your tools, and it shall be when you sit down outside, you shall dig with it and shall turn to cover up your excrement.
</p><p>
<div style="margin-left:5%">
These verses show the importance of sanitation to healthy living. In Deuteronomy it is specifically talking about bowel movements and the need to bury them (any Boy Scouts among us?).</div>
</p><p>
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/heb/1/10/s_1134010">Hebrews 1:10-12</a> - He also says, “In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.”
</p><p>
<div style="margin-left:5%">
Someday this universe will come to an end and be replaced by a “new heavens and a new earth.” Science is now learning that at some future time, the stars will all burn out and the universe will end. For the earth and the sun, that has been calculated to be about 2 billion years from now. But life as we know it will cease on the earth much sooner than that as the sun expands as a Red Giant star, engulfing the earth. </div>
</p><p>
Next we examine what Science predicts about the origins of life compared to the Biblical view.
</p><p>
<b>Origin of Life</b> - the Scientific view compared to the Biblical view (tables from <a href="http://www.reasons.org/articles/origin-of-life-predictions-face-off-evolution-vs.-biblical-creation">reasons.org</a>)
</p><p>
<b>Table I</b> - Some Predictions Made by the Naturalistic (Evolutionary) Origin-of-life Scenario
</p><p>
<ol>
<li>Placid chemical and physical conditions existed on the early earth for long periods of time
<li>Chemical pathways that produce biomolecules would have been capable of operating under the conditions of the early earth
<li>Life originated only once
<li>Life emerged gradually over a long period of time
<li>Life in its minimal form is simple
</ol>
</p><p>
<b>Table II</b> - Some Predictions Made by the Biblical Origin-of-life Scenario
</p><p>
<ol>
<li>Life appeared early in Earth’s history
<li>Life appeared under harsh conditions
<li>Life miraculously persisted under harsh conditions
<li>Life arose quickly
<li>Life in its minimal form is complex
</ol>
</p><p>
As we learn more about early life on our planet and how life existed in the past and lives on in the present, the scientific assumptions are giving way to the Biblical ones. It seems the more we learn the more it points to God as a Creator instead of random chance.
</p><p>
Now not only is the Bible filled with the fundamentals of science, but it is as much as 3,000 years ahead of its time. Biblical statements, when written, in most cases directly contradicted the science of the day. As modern scientific knowledge advances, the divine accuracy of the scriptures is substantiated. Here are some examples:
</p><p>
<table style="border:1px; padding:10; width:100%;">
<tr style="background-color:#993300; color:white;">
<td><b>Biblical Statement (NASB)</b></td><td><b>Science Then</b></td><td><b>Science Now</b></td>
</tr>
<tr style="background-color:#cccc99; color:black;">
<td>Earth is a sphere (<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/isa/40/22/s_719022">Isaiah 40:22</a>)</td><td>Earth is a flat disk</td><td>Earth is a sphere</td></tr>
<tr style="background-color:#cccc99; color:black;">
<td>Number of stars exceeds a billion (<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/jer/33/22/s_778022">Jeremiah 33:22</a>)</td><td>Number of stars totals 1,100</td><td>Number of stars exceeds a billion</td></tr>
<tr style="background-color:#cccc99; color:black;">
<td>Every star is different<br />(<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/1co/15/41/s_1077041">1 Corinthians 15:41</a>)</td><td>All stars are the same</td><td>Every star is different</td></tr>
<tr style="background-color:#cccc99; color:black;">
<td>Light is in motion (<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/job/38/19/s_474019">Job 38:19-20</a>)</td><td>Light is fixed in place</td><td>Light is in motion</td></tr>
<tr style="background-color:#cccc99; color:black;">
<td>Air has weight (<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/job/28/25/s_464025">Job 28:25</a>)</td><td>Air is weightless</td><td>Air has weight</td></tr>
<tr style="background-color:#cccc99; color:black;">
<td>Winds blow in cyclones <br />(<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/ecc/1/6/s_660006">Ecclesiastes 1:6</a>)</td><td>Winds blow straight</td><td>Winds blow in cyclones</td></tr>
<tr style="background-color:#cccc99; color:black;">
<td>Blood is a source of life and healing (<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/lev/17/11/s_107011">Leviticus 17:11</a>)</td><td>Sick people must bleed</td><td>Blood is a source of life and healing</td></tr>
</table>
</p><p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/isa/40/22/s_719022">Isaiah 40:22</a> – It is He who sits above the <b>circle of the earth</b>… (“chuwg“ – circle or sphere)<br />
<li><a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/jer/33/22/s_778022">Jeremiah 33:22</a> - As the host of heaven <b>cannot be counted</b> and... (A very large number)<br />
<li><a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/1co/15/41/s_1077041">1 Corinthians 15:41</a> - …and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in <b>glory</b> - (“doxa“ – brightness)<br />
<li><a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/job/38/19/s_474019">Job 38:19-20</a> - “Where is the way to the dwelling of light? …that you may discern the <b>paths to its home</b>? – (“shakan” – reside)<br />
<li><a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/job/28/25/s_464025">Job 28:25</a> - When He imparted <b>weight to the wind</b> and meted out the waters by measure – (“mishqal” – weight, heaviness)<br />
<li><a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/ecc/1/6/s_660006">Ecclesiastes 1:6</a> - The wind continues swirling along; and on its <b>circular courses</b> the wind returns. – (“cabab” – change direction)<br />
<li><a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/lev/17/11/s_107011">Leviticus 17:11</a> - <b>For the life of the flesh</b> is in the blood, and… - (“nephesh” – life, living being)
</ul>
</p><p>
The probability that the biblical writers, writing between 2,000 – 4,000 years ago, would have guessed all these details is less than one in many trillions.
</p><p>
In the crucible of scientific investigation, the Bible has proven invariably to be correct. No other book, ancient or modern, can make this claim; but then, no other book has been written (through men) by God. I think as we learn more through scientific study and examination, if we are reasonable and open, we will see the hand of God at work.
</p><p>
(Most of the biblical references come from <a href="reasons.org">Reasons to Believe</a>)
</p>God's Chemistry Sethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395978295675996565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3751368798332947932.post-50450819098286510212017-02-24T19:59:00.000-08:002017-02-24T19:59:54.081-08:00Searching Inward Part Three - Made in His Image<p>
Now we have to look at why is man so much more intelligent, creative and insightful than other animals. Why do we seek to reason? Why do we have a moral compass? Why is it we want to understand why we are here? Why do we seek God? Do the other animals do this? Is this because we have been created in God's image? Does evolution allow for this possibility, that by natural selection we will reason and seek to know all that is around us?
</p><p>
We see in Genesis that God created man in His image:
<div style="margin: 10px; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/gen/1/25/s_1025">Genesis 1:25-27 (NIV)</a> - God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. <sup>26</sup>Then God said, “<b>Let us make mankind in our image</b>, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” <sup>27</sup>So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female he created them.
</div>
<a title="Michelangelo [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ACreaci%C3%B3n_de_Ad%C3%A1n_(Miguel_%C3%81ngel).jpg"><img width="384" hspace="5" vspace="5" align="right" alt="Creación de Adán (Miguel Ángel)" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/64/Creaci%C3%B3n_de_Ad%C3%A1n_%28Miguel_%C3%81ngel%29.jpg/512px-Creaci%C3%B3n_de_Ad%C3%A1n_%28Miguel_%C3%81ngel%29.jpg"/></a>
</p><p>
So what does this mean? He did not say He created the animals or any other creature in His image, just man; "homo sapiens" as science defines man. Man is much like the animals in bodily form and function so being created in God's image has to mean more than just our physical attributes.
<hr width="90%" />
<div style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b>God created man in His image,</b></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b>So that we may reflect the fruit of His Spirit.</b></span></div>
<hr width="90%" />
</p><p>
We call this the <b>Psychological Big Bang (self-awareness).</b> This is the transition from the mechanical brain of simple life to the complexities of man's self-reflective mind. It is the question of morality and meaning, man's search for significance and purpose. Other animals have no apparent appreciation for what is true, good and beautiful. How do you get to the mind of a human from that of any lower life form? Even the lowest life forms have central nervous systems but none besides the human mind can contemplate, reason or create. How do you account for free will and introspection, humankind's existential drive to ask why? This is not even considered in evolutionary theory.
</p><p>
At the same time, we have the <b>Cultural Big Bang.</b> Humanoids (pre-human species like neanderthal man) had primitive tools and sometimes burials in shallow graves were found at their fossil digs. In contrast, human fossil digs have elaborate cave paintings, ornate jewelry, musical instruments, and ritual burial grounds. A dramatic advancement of cultural behavior occurred when humans appeared on the scene.
</p><p>
The creation of Man on the sixth day and God resting on the seventh day aligns here:
<div style="margin: 10px; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/gen/2/2/s_2002">Genesis 2:2-3 (NIV)</a> - "By the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on the seventh day He rested from all his work. <sup>3</sup>Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all the work of creating that he had done."
</div>
God created man in His image and that is why man has free will and introspection, and wants to understand the world around him. God rested on the seventh day and made it holy to show us that we need to take time from our everyday lives to understand our purpose and to worship Him.
</p><p>
This is what makes man different from the other animals - reason, dexterity, ability to make complex tools, his emotions and cognitive abilities, compassion, intuition, a heart for God. This is the unique soul of man compared to that of the animals. This shows that man was not a product of random evolutionary chance but God personally created man in His image. Again, this is not referring to physical appearance and attributes but in psychological terms - spiritual, rational, relational and moral.
</p><p>
The letter to the Gallatians reflects the fruit of the Spirit (God's Image) as the qualities we should reflect in our lives.
<div style="margin: 10px; padding: 0px;"><a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/gal/5/22/s_1096022">Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)</a> - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, <sup>23</sup>gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
</div>
But we, as humans, do not reflect all that is God, however. God has qualities higher than those we can attain - self-existance (independence), immutability (changelessness), Infinite (limitless) and Eternal (timelessness). Also Holiness (perfection) because we have fallen short of the glory of God due to our sinful nature.
<div style="margin: 10px; padding: 0px;">
<a href="">Romans 3:23-24 (NIV)</a> - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, <sup>24</sup>and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.<br>
<a href="">Romans 6:23 (NIV)</a> - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
</div>
God desires that we strive to be like Him, all the while knowing we cannot achieve the goal in this life. He showers us with grace and mercy, bringing us closer to Him. He wants us to love Him, and show this to the world by how we love each other.
</p><p>
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/mar/12/30/s_969031">Mark 12:30-31 (NIV)</a> - "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. <sup>31</sup>The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
</p><p>
God's Chemistry Sethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395978295675996565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3751368798332947932.post-62562738605611419622017-02-14T13:07:00.000-08:002017-02-14T13:07:22.173-08:00Happy Valentine's Day - Chocolate Sweets for Your Sweetheart - Revisited<p>
I wrote this blog about chocolate fives years ago for Valentine's Day. I thought I would share it again.
</p><p>
======================================================================
</p><p>
"Drop the Chocolate and step away. S-T-E-P A-W-A-Y!"
</p><p>
Most all of us love the taste of chocolate, but for some it means someone may get hurt! Chocolate is a traditional Valentine's Day gift, in a heart shaped box, or in a heart shaped candy, wrapped in red foil. As Charles M. Schulz said: "All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt."
</p><p>
Chocolate comes from the seed of the tropical Theobroma cacao tree. Cacao has been cultivated for at least three thousand years in Mexico, Central and South America. The Aztecs made it into a beverage known as xocolātl, a word meaning "bitter water". The seeds of the cacao tree have an intense bitter taste, and must be fermented to develop the full flavor of chocolate.
</p><p>
Much like coffee beans, the cocao beans are then dried, roasted, and ground to form cocoa mass, a pure chocolate called chocolate liquor. The liquor contains two principle ingredients: cocoa solids and cocoa butter. Cocoa solids contain theobromine, a methylxanthine alkaloid chemically similar to caffeine with like physiological effects.
</p><p>
<hr width="90%" /><div style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><b>"Life is like a box of chocolates.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b>You never know what you're gonna get."</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 90%;"><b>Forrest Gump (1994)</b></span><br />
</div><hr width="90%" />
</p><p>
There are numerous types of chocolate made by mixing four ingredients, cocoa solids, cocoa butter, sugar, and milk solids in varying proportions. Additional agents such as lecithin (an emulsifier), vanilla and vegetable oils increase the possible formulations. Here are some of the most common forms used:
</p><p>
<a title="By User:Aka (File:Chocolate.jpg) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AChocolate(bgFFF).jpg"><img align="right" hspace="10" vspace="2" width="256" alt="Chocolate(bgFFF)" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/Chocolate%28bgFFF%29.jpg/512px-Chocolate%28bgFFF%29.jpg"/></a>
<b>Unsweetened chocolate:</b> Also known as “bitter” or “baking” chocolate. It is unadulterated chocolate: the pure, ground, roasted cocoa beans rendering a strong, deep chocolate flavor.
</p><p>
<b>Bittersweet chocolate:</b> A dark chocolate that contains at least 35% cocoa solids. Most bittersweet bars contain at least 50% chocolate liquor, with some bars pushing 70-80% chocolate liquor. This chocolate has a deeper, more bitter flavor than sweet dark or semi-sweet chocolate.
</p><p>
<b>Semi-sweet chocolate:</b> A dark chocolate containing at least 35% cocoa solids but is sweeter than bittersweet due to additional sugar.
</p><p>
<b>Sweet dark chocolate:</b> A “dark chocolate” as it does not contain milk solids, but with a high percentage of sugar so it is much sweeter than other types of dark chocolate. Many brands of sweet dark chocolate have only 20-40% cocoa solids.
</p><p>
<b>Milk chocolate:</b> In addition to containing cocoa butter and chocolate liquor, milk chocolate contains either condensed milk or dry milk solids. Milk chocolate must contain at least 10% chocolate liquor, 3% butterfat, and 12% milk solids. Milk chocolates are typically much sweeter than dark chocolate, and have a lighter color.
</p><p>
<b>White chocolate:</b> White chocolate does not contain chocolate liquor or any cocoa products other than cocoa butter. It must contain a minimum 20% cocoa butter, 14% milk solids, and a maximum of 55% sugar.
</p><p>
Chocolate has become one of the most popular foods in the world. It is also used to produce chocolate milk and hot chocolate. The Europeans were the first to sweetened and fattened it by adding refined sugar and milk, two ingredients unknown in the Americas at that time. In the 19th century, Briton John Cadbury developed an emulsification process to make solid chocolate, thus creating the modern chocolate bar.
</p><p>
Chocolate off the store shelf can have whitish spots on the dark chocolate. This is called chocolate bloom and is not an indication of chocolate gone bad. Instead, this is just an indication that the sugar and/or fat has separated due to poor storage. Chocolate must be tempered at specific temperatures to create the right crystalline structure and then properly stored to maintain its composition. Heating or cooling the chocolate outside of its temperature profile can result in this type of separation. Chocolate can also absorb flavors from other foods so should be stored in tightly sealed containers.
</p><p>
A big plus for all of us chocolate lovers is that dark chocolate and cocoa butter have been linked with multiple positive effects. Scientific evidence suggests dark chocolate can help decrease the possibility of a heart attack or other cardiovascular problem when consumed regularly in small amounts and reduces blood pressure in both overweight and normal adults. Finally, studies have shown dark chocolate as part of a low-fat diet can lower cholesterol levels in adults.
</p><p>
So I hope you did not forget your sweetheart this Valentine's Day and bought her a box of her favorite health food, Chocolate!
</p><p>
<a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Sgs&c=7&v=6&t=NKJV#6">Song of Songs 7:6 (NKJV)</a> - How fair and how pleasant you are, O love, with your delights!
</p>God's Chemistry Sethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395978295675996565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3751368798332947932.post-57591349612959111272017-02-09T21:21:00.000-08:002017-02-09T21:22:24.126-08:00Searching Inward Part Two - The Life within Us<p>
Back in the summer of 1993, I was on a road trip around the western United States with three of my kids and while staying in Salt Lake City we decided to take in a new movie that had just come out, Jurassic Park. I am sure most of you have seen it or at least heard of the dinosaurs gone wild adventure. It was the greatest GMO experiment, science fiction in that day but science fact today. They found a mosquito captured in a ball of amber and extracted dinosaur DNA from the blood in the belly of the bug, cloning it into true living dinosaurs for an island theme park. This movie hits on several things we will be looking at today in our blog, the dinosaurs and DNA. <a title="By Volkan Yuksel (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AT-rex_fossil_Jane_by_Volkan_Yuksel_DSC08683g.JPG"><img width="256" align="right" hspace="5" vspace="5" alt="T-rex fossil Jane by Volkan Yuksel DSC08683g" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/T-rex_fossil_Jane_by_Volkan_Yuksel_DSC08683g.JPG/512px-T-rex_fossil_Jane_by_Volkan_Yuksel_DSC08683g.JPG"/></a>
</p><p>
First let’s go back to the <a href="http://godschemistryset.blogspot.com/2017/01/searching-inward-part-one-life-around-us.html">last blog entry</a> about the Cambrian Explosion that occurred about 540 million years ago. Since then, there have been five major mass extinction events with the last one happening about 65 million years ago when the dinosaurs became extinct. This extinction was possibly due to two catastrophic events occurring one right after the other, a massive volcanic eruption followed by a gigantic asteroid slamming into the Yucatan peninsula. These two events covered the earth with hundreds of feet of ash and soot - laying down a geological layer that would wipe out the dinosaurs and produce large oil and gas pockets. Without the mass extinction of these fierce reptiles, we would not have the oil that has driven our industrial revolution over the last 200 years. God used all of these events for a purpose. People often ask if God just wanted to make man, why so much wasted space or life or whatever, but He had a reason and a purpose for all that He did in His creation. All of it was necessary, even though we might not know why now - <a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/pro/25/2/s_653002">Prov 25:2 (KJV)</a> - It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
</p><p>
So now today we will look at what makes life so special. Just in terms of advanced life forms, including man, the physical being of the structure of life is extremely complex. We learn new things daily about how wondrous the cell is and how bringing millions and billions and trillions of cells together, a functional being results. All multi-celled life forms have an array of cell types that function in different ways but come from one cell. Even the simplest of organisms is indeed complex.
</p><p>
But let’s go back to the DNA part of the story first. Human DNA has a sequence of over 3 billion letters (A-Adenine, G-Guanine, C-Cytosine and T-Thymine). Only 5% of our DNA contains the codes for the 10,000+ proteins used in our bodies. The rest was once considered junk DNA but science has now determined that up to 80% of this remaining DNA actually controls how and when the proteins are made and what the cell form will be. The DNA string is wrapped up tightly in coils and stored in every single cell in our bodies. This allows the 3 billion base pairs in each cell to fit into a space just 6 microns across (the cell nucleus). If you stretched the DNA in one cell all the way out, it would be about 6 feet long and all the DNA in all of your cells put together end to end would be about twice the diameter of the Solar System.
</p><p>
<hr width="90%" />
<div style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b>Biologists must constantly keep in mind that what</b></span><br>
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><b>We see was not designed, but rather evolved.</b></span></div>
<div style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 90%;">Frances Crick - referencing the DNA double Helix</span></div>
<hr width="90%" />
</p><p>
DNA stores all the information to make you, in each and every cell. In fact, science can now tell a lot about your origin and ancestry by looking at your DNA. You can even send in a kit with a sample of your tissue and get back an analysis that will tell where your ancestors came from. Science has even been able to get DNA from fossils and sequence it and trace the lineage of the fossil. Neanderthal man is a case in point. Once thought to have been our direct ancestor, he has now been shown not only to not be directly related but actually from a different chain in the genus Homo. DNA testing shows that humans have some Neanderthal DNA but possibly it comes from interbreeding or a common ancestor farther back. DNA shows most, if not all mankind (homo sapiens) has one ancestor (<a href="http://godschemistryset.blogspot.com/2011/11/male-and-female-he-created-them-can-we.html">Adam</a> or <a href="http://godschemistryset.blogspot.com/2011/11/was-mitochondrial-eve-eve-of-genesis.html">mitochondrial Eve?</a>).
</p><p>
DNA has built-in mechanisms to prevent errors in coding - there are 64 possible 3 nucleic acid strings (such a string specifies one amino acid in the protein being formed) and only 20 amino acids used in our genetic code to produce proteins. Most amino acids have more than one three character code and the extra sequences are used to help with error correction by preventing minor mutations from changing the resulting protein.
</p><p>
But it is not fool proof. Even a single amino acid error can sometimes produce a disorder as in Sickle Cell disease. The DNA mutation of a single nucleotide of the hemoglobin gene results in glutamic acid being substituted by valine at position 6 in hemoglobin's beta protein strings of 146 amino acids (hemoglobin is made up of 2 alpha and 2 beta protein strings totaling 574 amino acids). This occurs when the A (Adenine) in the DNA three letter sequence GAG, which translates to glutamic acid in the protein, is substituted with T (Thymine), changing the sequence to GTG which translates to valine. This is normally a benign mutation, causing no apparent effects on the structure of hemoglobin in conditions of normal oxygen concentration. What it does allow for, under conditions of low oxygen concentration, is the sickle formation of the red blood cells due to the genetically different hemoglobin molecule whose shape is changed by this one amino acid error.
</p><p>
Science now can modify the DNA of a single cell organism, typically a bacterium, and have it produce a new or modified protein. This is called recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology. A great example using this technology in the healthcare field is the development of rDNA human insulin. Previously insulin for human use was extracted from beef and later from pork. Although these worked, they could cause allergic reactions. Insulin is a protein made up of two chains totaling 51 amino acids - beef has three different amino acids and pork has one compared to human insulin and yet our bodies can tell the difference. Now with rDNA produced human insulin, these adverse effects are a thing of the past.
</p><p>
<a title="By Zephyris (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ADNA_Structure%2BKey%2BLabelled.pn_NoBB.png"><img width="308" align="left" hspace="5" vspace="5" alt="DNA Structure+Key+Labelled.pn NoBB" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/DNA_Structure%2BKey%2BLabelled.pn_NoBB.png/512px-DNA_Structure%2BKey%2BLabelled.pn_NoBB.png"/></a>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Crick">Francis Crick</a>, the scientist who deciphered the double helix of DNA, said of his work: "Biologists must constantly keep in mind that what we see was not designed, but rather evolved." He also said: "An honest man, armed with all of the knowledge available to us now, could only state that in some sense, the origin of life appears at the moment to almost be a miracle, so many are the conditions which would have to have been satisfied to get it going."
</p><p>
Scientists have tried to take this one step farther and create life in the lab. They made a synthetic organism, but it was no primordial goo that happened to come alive. It took scientists hundreds of hours using computers and other very sophisticated equipment, cost over $40 million dollars and 15 years of work. Certainly not a simple process and the end result was not alive. Although it did function in some respects, it could not produce, or reproduce, the complex molecules needed to sustain and duplicate life.
</p><p>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_W._Deamer">Doctor David Deamer</a>, one of the scientists involved in this work, published an article where he listed the following 12 specific steps needed to create the simplest form of life.
</p><p>
<div style="margin: 10px; padding: 0px;"><b>Defining artificial life:</b>
What would such a system do? We can answer this question by listing the steps that would be required for a microorganism to emerge as the first cellular life form on the early Earth:
</p><p>
<ol type="i">
<li>Boundary membranes self-assemble from soap-like molecules to form microscopic cell-like compartments.
<li>Energy is captured by the membranes either from light and a pigment system, or from chemical energy, or both.
<li>Ion concentration gradients are maintained across the membranes and can serve as a major source of metabolic energy.
<li>Macromolecules are encapsulated in the compartments but smaller molecules can cross the membrane barrier to provide nutrients and chemical energy for primitive metabolism.
<li>The macromolecules grow by polymerization of the nutrient molecules.
<li>Macromolecular catalysts evolve that speed the growth process.
<li>The macromolecular catalysts themselves are reproduced during growth.
<li>Genetic information is encoded in the sequence of monomers in one set of polymers.
<li>The information is used to direct the growth of catalytic polymers.
<li>The membrane-bounded system of macromolecules can divide into smaller structures that continue to grow.
<li>Genetic information is passed between generations by duplicating the gene sequences and sharing them among daughter cells.
<li>Occasional mistakes (mutations) are made during replication or transmission of information so that the system can evolve through natural selection.
</ol>
</div>
</p><p>
After considering this list, he said: "Looking down this list, <b>one is struck by the complexity of even the simplest of life</b>. This is why it has been so difficult to ‘define’ life in the usual sense of a definition – that is, boiled down to a few sentences in a dictionary. <b>Life is a complex system that cannot be captured in a few sentences</b>, so perhaps a list of its observed properties is the best we can ever hope to do." (emphasis mine).
</p><p>
What did the cell look like to scientists when Darwin first proposed evolution? It was protoplasm and a nucleus. What sparks a single cell to split and differentiate into a myriad of cell types - in humans, hearts and lungs and brains and... Is it just the pressure of "survival of the fittest (natural selection)?” How does the DNA know that for this cell in this place it needs to be a nerve cell? All cells carry the full gene complement to produce any cell in the body but surroundings somehow tell a cell to be special.
</p><p>
Life is extremely complex. Could this all happen by chance, by the pressure of natural selection, in just 3.8 billion years, with all that the earth has gone through during that time? Science says this happened by chance, not because they know it does but because they have no other theory for it, and they cannot say God because He does not exist in the physical realm scientifically, nor can He be proven or dis-proven by science. In my mind he can and does exist and it is for each of us to decide for ourselves what we believe. The evidence is there.
</p><p>
With this, we are just scratching the surface. The cell is full of complex systems, not just the DNA that directs it or the proteins that run it. There are numerous other features, such as mitochondria and ribosomes, and numerous other chemical reactions, such as the Krebs cycle and active transport of nutrients, that must function to get the job of life done. God is amazing!
</p><p>
<a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/rom/1/20/s_1047020">Romans 1:20 (NIV)</a> - For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
</p><p>
God's Chemistry Sethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08395978295675996565noreply@blogger.com0