Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

The call came in at 2:53am, why does it seem like it is always early in the morning, "Mom, can you come over now, we need you." My daughter-in-law had looked different when I saw her on Sunday afternoon at a birthday party. It was obvious that the baby had dropped and it was almost "time." She was clearly uncomfortable and ready to go soon, even though the due date was not for two weeks. During the party her water broke but she did not think they needed to rush to the hospital. No time-able contractions yet. This is child number four so she was not wanting to rush in, only to be sent home again. My wife went to watch the older children, I will join them later. It is Monday morning 5:09am and no word yet so hopefully things are going well.

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I am Fearfully and Wonderfully Made;
Marvelous are Your Works
Psalms 139:14

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Genesis 3:16a (NKJV) - To the woman He said: "I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children;"

Because of the fall in the Garden, the labor won't be easy, but joy will come when the baby is born.

Luke 12:7a (NIV) - Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Each of us was made in His image, He has numbered the very hairs on our head. We are priceless in His sight. God has set forth a plan and purpose for every one of us. He will guide us through that purpose, if we just let Him.

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) - For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

In spite of what life may bring, what physical maladies may present, what emotional trauma, what struggles we may endure, God loves us and wants us to know Him and come to Him. He knit us together, we should not destroy that for any reason.

Psalms 139:13 (NIV) - For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.

He has given us wisdom and knowledge in the inner workings of our physical bodies and we must use that understanding for healing and not for destruction.

Deuteronomy 29:29 (NIV) - 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.

And yet we have much more to learn. Science is a gift from God, giving us a glimpse directly into His mind, allowing us to pursue Him as we discover and uncover His marvelous works.

Psalms 139:14 (NKJV) - I will praise You, for I am fearfully [and] wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And [that] my soul knows very well.

Phosphorus and the Cola Controversy

As with my last blog, (M for Magnesium), this entry is expanding on one of the elements discussed previously in a frequently visited story, this time Phosphorus. The blog "Fire and Brimstone" is currently number three on the list, battling it out for second place with "Salt of the Earth." There must be schools out there somewhere that are looking at the third period of the Periodic Table regularly. All of the elements discussed in my top three blogs - Sodium, Magnesium, Aluminum, Phosphorus, Sulfur and Chlorine - are in the third period.

Phosphorus is the chemical element with symbol P and atomic number 15. A multivalent nonmetal of the Nitrogen group, Phosphorus as a mineral is almost always present in its maximally oxidized state, inorganic phosphate. Elemental phosphorus exists in two major forms — white phosphorus and red phosphorus — but due to its high reactivity, it is never found as a free element. Phosphorus was the 13th element to be discovered and the first element discovered in modern times.

White Phosphorus is the least stable, the most reactive and the most toxic of the allotropes. It consists of tetrahedral P₄ molecules, in which each atom is bound to the other three atoms by a single bond. White Phosphorus gradually changes to red Phosphorus. Red Phosphorus is polymeric in structure. It can be viewed as a derivative of P₄ wherein one P-P bond is broken, and one additional bond is formed between the neighboring tetrahedron resulting in a chain-like structure. Red Phosphorus may be formed by heating white phosphorus to 250 °C (482 °F) or by exposing white Phosphorus to sunlight.

Phosphorus is highly flammable and pyrophoric (self-igniting) upon contact with air. White Phosphorus is used as an additive in napalm. The odor produced on combustion has a characteristic garlic smell. Elemental Phosphorus glows in the dark (when exposed to Oxygen) with a very faint tinge of green and blue. The term phosphorescence (re-emitting light that previously fell onto a substance and excited it) is derived from Phosphorus but the reaction that gives Phosphorus its glow is properly called chemiluminescence (glowing due to a cold chemical reaction).

Due to its flammability, Phosphorus was used in "strike anywhere" matches, first produced in the 1830s. They were sensitive to storage conditions, toxic and unsafe, as they could be lit by striking on any rough surface. Their production was gradually banned in different countries starting in 1872 up until 1925. As a consequence, the "strike-anywhere" matches were gradually replaced by the "safety matches" we know today. White Phosphorus was replaced with Phosphorus Sesquisulfide (P₄S₃), Sulfur or Antimony Sulfide. Such matches are hard to ignite on an arbitrary surface and require a special strip containing red Phosphorus. The Phosphorus heats up upon striking, reacts with the Oxygen-releasing compound in the head and ignites the flammable material.

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Phosphoric Acid binds Calcium
And may decrease Bone Density
So drink Cola in Moderation

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Inorganic Phosphorus in the form of the Phosphate ((PO₄)⁻³) is essential for most life, playing a major role in biological molecules. Phosphate is a key component of DNA, RNA, and Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP). Nearly every cellular process that uses energy obtains it in the form of ATP. It is also found in the phospholipids that form all cell membranes. Elemental Phosphorus was first isolated from human urine, and bone ash was an important early Phosphate source. The chief commercial use of Phosphorus compounds is for the production of fertilizers to meet the need for Phosphorus that plants require to grow. Elemental Phosphorus is highly toxic, causing severe liver damage. Ingestion of white Phosphorus can also cause a medical condition known as "Smoking Stool Syndrome" where the stool will emit white smoke when exposed to air.

One area of debate involving Phosphorus is around the use of Phosphoric acid (H₃PO₄) in carbonated soft drinks, primarily colas. Phosphoric acid is added to give colas their tangy flavor. It also slows the growth of molds and bacteria, which otherwise would multiply rapidly in the sugary solution.

Phosphoric acid has been linked to lower bone density in some epidemiological studies. One such study showed that women who consume colas daily have a lower bone density than those who don't. Total phosphorus intake was not significantly higher in daily cola consumers than in non-consumers; however, the Calcium-to-Phosphorus ratios were lower. Consuming highly acidic substances can promote a deterioration of the teeth, jawbone, pelvis and femur. From this study and others like it, drinking Phosphoric acid appears to dissolve away your skeletal system.

Phosphate binds Calcium and can lead to increased elimination of Calcium from your system. Another study suggests that the decreased systemic Calcium is due to the fact that if someone has a high soda intake, they have a low milk intake - substituting soda for milk as their source of liquids. This study concluded that the net effect of carbonated beverages — including those with caffeine and Phosphoric acid — is negligible, and that the skeletal effects of carbonated soft drink consumption are likely due primarily to milk displacement.

Phosphorus itself is an important bone mineral. But if you're getting a disproportionate amount of Phosphorus compared to the amount of Calcium in your diet, that could lead to bone loss. Aside from this risk of osteoporosis, Cola consumption has also been linked to chronic kidney disease and kidney stones.

American consumption of carbonated soft drinks fell to 491 twelve ounce servings in 2009, down from 507 servings in 2008. (Per capita consumption peaked in 1998 at 576 twelve ounce servings.) Only a small fraction of the Phosphate in the American diet comes from additives in soft drinks. One twelve ounce can of cola contains approximately 37 mg of Phosphorus. The recommended daily intake is about 1000mg so drinking six sodas a day would constitute only about 22% of the daily allowance. Most Phosphorus comes from meat and dairy products. The amount of Phosphoric acid in soda is minimal compared to that found in chicken or cheese and no one's telling us to stop eating chicken. So your reason for not drinking cola should be its sugar content and artificial food colorings, not the Phosphoric acid.

There are a few things you can do to boost your bone health:

• Cut down your cola intake by one or two cans a day or switch to a non-cola soda if you can not stop entirely.
  
• For every soda you skip, reach for a glass of milk instead.
  
• Add milk instead of water when you prepare pancakes, waffles, and cocoa.
  
• Add nonfat powdered dry milk along with liquid milk to recipes using milk - puddings, cookies, breads, soups, gravy, and casseroles.
  
• Take a Calcium and Vitamin D supplement if you still aren't getting enough Calcium.
  
• Get plenty of weight-bearing and resistance exercise. Walk, walk, walk everywhere!
  

Proverbs 25:15 (NIV) - Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

M for Magnesium

Since starting this blog over a year ago, Magnesium has been, by far, the most frequently searched term. Not sure why but even to this day, after more than a year, the blog Magnesium & Aluminum tops the page count day after day, week after week and month after month. So I thought I would do an update, at least for Magnesium, so here it is.

"Remember, remember the 5th of November..." - V for Vendetta

(for those of us in the US we need to remember the 6th this year).

Guy Fawkes Night is an annual commemoration observed on November 5th, primarily in England. Its history begins with the events of November 5, 1605, when Guy Fawkes, a member of the Gunpowder Plot, was arrested while guarding explosives the plotters had placed beneath the House of Lords. Celebrating the fact that King James I had survived the attempt on his life, people lit bonfires around London. Within a few decades Gunpowder Treason Day, as it was also known, became the predominant English state commemoration. Towards the end of the 18th century November 5th gradually became known as Guy Fawkes Day. Present-day Guy Fawkes Day is usually celebrated at large organized events, centered around a bonfire and extravagant fireworks.

The film "V for Vendetta," based on the comic book series of the same name, plays on the Guy Fawkes theme as a futuristic political thriller where the key protagonist plans to destroy the House of Parliament on Guy Fawkes Day in the year 2021. Although V, a bold, charismatic freedom fighter, dies before his plot is carried out, the House of Parliament is destroyed and V is identified as "all of us" fighting political oppression.

The Magnesium post is by far the most popular. Why? Is everyone making bombs out there? Or is it a fascination with fireworks?

A sparkler is a type of hand-held firework that burns slowly while emitting colored sparks or flames. In the United Kingdom, a sparkler is often used by children at bonfire and fireworks displays on Guy Fawkes Night and in the United States on Independence Day, the 4th of July.

The "classic" type of sparkler consists of a stiff metal wire approximately 8 inches long that has been coated with a thick batter of slow-burning pyrotechnic material and allowed to dry. It contains one or more from the following categories:

• A mandatory Metallic fuel - to make sparks
• Aluminium or Magnesium, producing white sparks
• Iron, producing orange branching sparks
• Titanium, producing rich white sparks
• Optional Additional fuel - to modify the burn speed
• Sulfur
• Charcoal
• A mandatory Oxidizer
• Potassium nitrate
• Barium nitrate
• Strontium nitrate
• Potassium perchlorate
• Optional pyrotechnic colorants - to color flames
• Chlorides and nitrates of metals - barium, strontium, or copper
• A mandatory Combustible binder - hold the fuel together
• Dextrin
• Nitrocellulose

Magnesium is explosive when finely slivered, spontaneously bursting into flame when exposed to air. Once ignited, it is difficult to extinguish. Magnesium is capable of reducing water to highly flammable Hydrogen gas, and as a result, water cannot be used to extinguish Magnesium fires; the Hydrogen gas produced will only intensify the fire. Magnesium also reacts with Carbon Dioxide to form Magnesium Oxide and Carbon, hence, Carbon Dioxide fire extinguishers cannot be used for extinguishing Magnesium fires either. Burning Magnesium is usually quenched by using a Class D dry chemical fire extinguisher, or by covering the fire with sand to remove its air source.

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The spark of explosive Magnesium
Reminds us of the flash that split the darkness
when God said "Let there be light"

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On burning in air, Magnesium produces a brilliant white light which includes strong ultraviolet rays. Thus Magnesium flash powder was used as a source of light in the early days of photography. Later, Magnesium ribbon was used in flash bulbs. And, of course, Magnesium powder is used in the manufacture of fireworks and marine flares where a brilliant white light is required.

Magnesium is the chemical element with symbol Mg. It is the second element in Period 3, with an atomic number of 12, located between Sodium and Aluminum. Magnesium is the fourth most common element in the Earth as a whole (behind Iron, Oxygen and Silicon) and makes up 13% of the planet's mass. It is highly soluble in water and is the third most abundant element in seawater.

Magnesium ions are sour to the taste, and in low concentrations they help to impart a natural tartness to fresh mineral waters. In 1618, a farmer in England attempted to water his cows from a well. The cows refused to drink because of the water’s bitter taste, but the farmer noticed that the water seemed to promote healing of scratches and rashes. The substance, hydrated Magnesium Sulfate (MgSO₄·7 H₂O), became known as Epsom Salts, named for the farmer's town, and its fame quickly spread.

In the human body, Magnesium is the eleventh most abundant element and its ions are essential to all living cells, playing a major role in manipulating important biological polyphosphate compounds like ATP, DNA, and RNA. Hundreds of enzymes require Magnesium ions to function.

Magnesium is a vital component of a healthy diet. Spices, nuts, cereals, coffee, cocoa, tea, and vegetables are rich sources of Magnesium. Green leafy vegetables, being high in chlorophyll, are also rich in Magnesium. Low levels of Magnesium in the body has been associated with the development of a number of human illnesses such as asthma, diabetes, and osteoporosis. Alcoholism can also produce a Magnesium deficiency. Taken in the proper amount, Magnesium plays a role in preventing both strokes and heart attack. Magnesium can shorten the length of a migraine and the symptoms can be less severe. Excess Magnesium in the blood is freely filtered at the kidneys, and for this reason it is difficult to overdose on Magnesium.

In manufacturing, Magnesium is the third most commonly used structural metal, following Iron and Aluminum. It has been called the lightest useful metal. Its main applications are, in order: as a component of Aluminum alloys, in die-casting (alloyed with Zinc), to remove Sulfur in the production of Iron and Steel, and in the production of Titanium. In its purest form, Magnesium is strong and light so it is used in automotive and truck components. Specialty, high-grade car wheels of Magnesium alloy are called "mag wheels", although the term is often more broadly misapplied to include Aluminum wheels.

Magnesium is also extensively used in electronic devices. Because of its low weight, good mechanical and electrical properties, Magnesium is widely used for manufacturing of mobile phones, laptop and tablet computers, cameras, and other electronic components.

The spark of explosive Magnesium reminds us of the flash that split the darkness when God said "Let there be light: and there was light." Genesis 1:3 (KJV)

A Final Look at the Minerals of Revelation

When I wrote the first blog for this study, I envisioned that it would be a series of three or four blogs. Little did I suspect that I would write a separate blog entry for each of the foundational stones. But as I began to research each stone, I realized that there was a wealth of information, and mis-information, on the history and identity of the stones. As I worked through them all, I have tried to identify what seems right to me. But this is just my opinion, and it is just for now. I may go back and review this in the future and come to different conclusions about the stones, their colors and their significance.

The New Jerusalem
- Public Domain

As I studied I found good arguments for labeling the stones differently. Some Bible searchers considered the types of stones known to be present in Egypt at the time of the Exodus, assuming that the Israelites received the gems as gifts when they left Egypt after the last plague. One source identified the stones so that the colors would have significance, moving from a clear Jasper prism to a red Ruby and ultimately to a violet Amethyst passing through all of the colors of the rainbow. Others still examined the Hebrew and Greek roots, the Biblical text associated with these words and as much history as they could find to anchor their interpretation.

I tried to mix the first and third approach, assessing all I could discover in the light of history and then settling on a choice. As I said before, my thoughts of today may change as I uncover more about these precious gems. Here I am presenting the "facts" as I see them today but take them with a grain of salt and do your own study into the "Minerals of Revelation."

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A Gem cannot be Polished without Friction,
Nor a Man Perfected without Trials.
Chinese Proverb

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Here is a brief description of each mineral listed in Revelation 21:19ff. I have linked each stone to its blog entry.

• Jasper - is an opaque, impure variety of Silica (SiO₂), usually red, yellow, brown or green in color.
• Sapphire - is a variety of Corundum, an Aluminium Oxide (Al₂O₃). Trace amounts of other elements give it a blue, yellow, pink, purple, orange or greenish color.
• Chalcedony (Agate) - is a microcrystalline variety of Silica characterized by its fineness of grain and brightness of color.
• Emerald - is a variety of the mineral Beryl (Be₃Al₂(SiO₃)₆) colored green by trace amounts of Chromium and sometimes Vanadium.
• Sardonyx (Onyx) - is a banded variety of Chalcedony. The colors of its bands can be almost every color.
• Sardius (Carnelian) - is a brownish-red mineral variety of Chalcedony colored by impurities of Iron Oxide.
• Chrysolite (Peridot) - is a Magnesium Silicate with the formula (Mg,Fe)₂SiO₄.
• Beryl - is a Beryllium Aluminium Cyclosilicate with the chemical formula Be₃Al₂(SiO₃)₆.
• Topaz - is a silicate mineral of Aluminium and Fluorine with the chemical formula Al₂SiO₄(F,OH)₂.
• Chrysoprase - is a variety of Chalcedony that contains small quantities of Nickel. Its color is normally apple-green.
• Jacinth - is a red transparent variety of Zircon (ZrSiO₄).
• Amethyst - is a violet variety of Quartz (SiO₂).

This first table assembles the chemical facts I reported in each of the individual blog entries. Many of the stones are Quartz, a common mineral - as abundant as the sands of the sea - but with various mineral structures and impurities that create the different stones. Most of these minerals come in a variety of colors but I listed the one color that seems the best fit to me. The Mohs hardness is a scale where a Diamond, the hardest gem, is a 10.

Gemstone Name	Foundation Number	Chemical Formula	Mineral Type	Possible Color	Mohs Hardness
Jasper	1	SiO2	Quartz	Red	6.5-7
Sapphire	2	Al2O3	Corundum	Blue	9
Chalcedony	3	SiO2	Quartz	Gray-Blue	7
Emerald	4	Be3Al2(SiO3)6	Beryl	Green	8
Sardonyx	5	SiO2	Quartz	Banded Red/White/Brown	6.5-7
Sardius	6	SiO2 with Iron Oxide	Quartz	Red	9
Chrysolite	7	(Mg,Fe)2SiO4	Silicate	Green	6.5-7
Beryl	8	Be3Al2(SiO3)6	Beryl	Blue-Green	7.5-8
Topaz	9	Al2SiO4(F,OH)2	Fluorosilicate	Orange	8
Chrysoprase	10	SiO2 with Nickel	Quartz	Apple-Green	6-7
Jacinth	11	Mg3Al2(SiO4)3 or ZrSiO4	Silicate	Dark Red	6.5-7.5
Amethyst	12	SiO2 with Fe+3	Quartz	Violet	7

This next table connects the stones to the Breastplate of the High Priest in Exodus 9:8ff. As mentioned in the individual blog entries, each stone is tied to a son or grandson of Jacob by either birth order or by the order of the tribes in the camp. In addition, the stones each reference an Apostle of Jesus. Several stones have multiple apostolic links but I have listed just one.

Gemstone Name	Breastplate Number	Birth Order	Camp Order	Apostle
Jasper	12	Benjamin	Naphtali	Peter
Sapphire	5	Dan	Simeon	Paul
Chalcedony	8	Asher	Manasseh	Andrew
Emerald	3	Levi	Zebulon	John the Evangelist
Sardonyx	11	Joseph	Asher	James (son of Zebedee)
Sardius	1	Reuben	Judah	Bartholomew (Nathaniel)
Chrysolite	4	Judah	Reuben	Thaddaeus
Beryl	10	Zebulon	Dan	Thomas
Topaz	2	Simeon	Issachar	Matthew
Chrysoprase	6	Naphtali	Gad	Thaddaeus
Jacinth	7	Gad	Ephraim	Simon the Zealot
Amethyst	9	Issachar	Benjamin	Andrew

Finally, this last table lists some possible alternative stones that could have been the true identity of the stone listed. This is due to the fact that the names of several stones have changed over the years such that the name from the Bible does not point to the stone we know today by that name. Only Amethyst is lacking another possible stone. I include here as well the Hebrew and Greek words linked to the King James Version of the Bible that point to the stones along with a short description of my interpretation of the symbolism of each foundational stone.

Gemstone Name	Alternate Stones	Hebrew Name	Greek Name	Symbolism
Jasper	Diamond	yashĕpheh	iaspis	The sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross
Sapphire	Lapsis Lazuli	cappiyr	sapphiros	The divine connection between God and man
Chalcedony	Agate	shĕbuw	chalkedon	Our service to the Lord that is done in secret
Emerald	Carbuncle	bareqeth	smaragdos	The Shekhinah Glory of God
Sardonyx	Onyx	shoham	sardonux	The Blood of the Martyrs
Sardius	Carnelian or Ruby	odem	sardinos	The Shed Blood of Jesus
Chrysolite	Olivine or Peridot	nophek	chrysolithos	The Counsel of the Holy Spirit
Beryl	Aquamarine	tarshiysh	bēryllos	God's Power as the Giver of Life
Topaz	Chrysolite	pitdah	topazion	Seeking and finding the Kingdom of God
Chrysoprase	Emerald	yahalom	chrysoprasus	The Apple of God's Eye
Jacinth	Garnet or Zircon	leshem	hyakinthinos	The Light of God reflected in His Creation
Amethyst	NA	achlamah	amethystos	The Royal Priesthood

I hope you have found this series interesting and informative. May it spur you on to your own study of the greatest book ever written.

Revelation 21:2-4 (NIV) - I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. ³And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

Amethyst - The Royal Stone

So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns, and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. Then they said, "Hail, King of the Jews!" John 19:1-3a (NKJV)

Many Catholic churches cover their spiritual images with purple cloth during Lent, especially the large crucifix overhanging the altar, to impact the faithful, creating a spiritual hunger to see the face of their savior, Jesus Christ, once again. This covering shifts the focus from simple worship and adoration to a deeper form of meditation, remembering Christ's redemptive acts through His sacrifice on the cross.

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Amethyst - The Final Foundational Stone
The Color of a Royal Priesthood

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The color purple has long symbolized Royalty. The dictionary defines purple as “any color having components of both red and blue” and as a “symbol of royalty or high office.” Purple's elite status stems from the rarity and cost of the dye originally used to produce it. The earliest archaeological evidence for the origins of purple dyes points to the ancient land of Canaan.

The twelfth and final foundational stone is the Amethyst, a deep purple or violet stone, the only gem of this color. Amethyst is a purple variety of quartz (SiO₂) and owes its violet color to irradiation of trivalent iron impurities (Fe3+) and the presence of large trace elements. It is the most precious member of the quartz family. The hardness of the mineral is the same as quartz (Mohs 7) and thus it is suitable for use in jewelry.

The Amethyst is also found in the Breastplate of the High Priest, the third stone in the third row. It represents Issachar by birth order and Benjamin by the order of the camp. For the Apostles, it has been linked to Andrew and also to Matthew because of its fiery aspect.

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word is "achlamah" meaning the precious stone now known as Amethyst. It is thought to have derived from the root "chalam," meaning to dream, and thus the Amethyst is sometimes referred to as the "dream-stone." The Greek word "amethystos," used in the New Testament, means "not drunken" and thus the Amethyst was thought to ward off drunkenness. Leonardo Da Vinci wrote that Amethyst was able to dissipate evil thoughts and quicken the intelligence.

Amethyst signifies the heart of the lowly that die with Christ. It represents those who pray for their enemies and their persecuters. It is worn by Roman Catholic Bishops as a symbol of trust, piety, humility, sincerity and spiritual wisdom. Moses described it as a symbol of the Spirit of God in the official robes of the High Priest of the Jews.

As the last foundation of the New Jerusalem, it is only proper that this stone symbolize the royal nature of the King that will rule and reign forever!

1 Peter 2:9 (NIV) - But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.