LEAVES OF THREE, LET THEM BE
1 John 1:7
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."
"Leaves of three, let them be." "One, two, three � don't touch me." Do you know what I'm talking about? I'm talking about poison ivy, a plant with three leaves connected closely together on each stem.
There's a good reason why poison ivy is the most well-known toxic plant in North America. Most poisons that work by touch are usually quick to lose their effect, but poison ivy leaves are covered with a sticky oil that makes the poison cling to skin and clothing. And that poison can cause a really nasty allergic reaction.
But there are folk sayings that are useful in identifying poison ivy. "Longer middle stem; stay away from them." This points out that the middle leaf of the three has a long stem while the two side leaves attach almost directly. "Side leaflets like mittens, will itch like the dickens." The side leaves are smaller and may be shaped like mittens. "Red leaflets in the spring, it's a dangerous thing" and "berries white, run in fright" can also help you steer clear of poison ivy.
When you think about it, sin can be compared to poison ivy. Like poison ivy, sin is fairly easy to recognize. We have the Bible's admonitions, for one. And we can count on the Holy Spirit to warn us when we are tempted to sin. Best of all, though, we have Jesus, who gives us power to resist sin and then forgives when we fall into sin.
Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son to die on the cross to rescue Your people from the power, the punishment and eventually the presence of sin. Amen.
Some of this material came from "How to Identify Poison Ivy" at the wikiHow website. Photo: Poison ivy (toxicodendron radicans) at Perrot State Park. Uploaded to Wikimedia Commons by SWMNPoliSciProject. (CC BY 3.0)
1 John 1:7
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."
"Leaves of three, let them be." "One, two, three � don't touch me." Do you know what I'm talking about? I'm talking about poison ivy, a plant with three leaves connected closely together on each stem.
There's a good reason why poison ivy is the most well-known toxic plant in North America. Most poisons that work by touch are usually quick to lose their effect, but poison ivy leaves are covered with a sticky oil that makes the poison cling to skin and clothing. And that poison can cause a really nasty allergic reaction.
But there are folk sayings that are useful in identifying poison ivy. "Longer middle stem; stay away from them." This points out that the middle leaf of the three has a long stem while the two side leaves attach almost directly. "Side leaflets like mittens, will itch like the dickens." The side leaves are smaller and may be shaped like mittens. "Red leaflets in the spring, it's a dangerous thing" and "berries white, run in fright" can also help you steer clear of poison ivy.
When you think about it, sin can be compared to poison ivy. Like poison ivy, sin is fairly easy to recognize. We have the Bible's admonitions, for one. And we can count on the Holy Spirit to warn us when we are tempted to sin. Best of all, though, we have Jesus, who gives us power to resist sin and then forgives when we fall into sin.
Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son to die on the cross to rescue Your people from the power, the punishment and eventually the presence of sin. Amen.
Some of this material came from "How to Identify Poison Ivy" at the wikiHow website. Photo: Poison ivy (toxicodendron radicans) at Perrot State Park. Uploaded to Wikimedia Commons by SWMNPoliSciProject. (CC BY 3.0)
CREATION TRUTH IN A COMIC STRIP
Psalm 146:1-2
"Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul. While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being."
I admit it. I enjoy reading comic strips from time to time. I especially love the single-panel "Far Side" cartoons by Gary Larson. He's one of the only cartoonists who has repeatedly focused on the foolishness of evolution and gotten away with it.
But perhaps my favorite cartoonist is the late Johnny Hart. He is famous for his award-winning "B.C." and "Wizard of Id" comic strips. Chuck Colson once referred to Hart as "the most widely read Christian of our time."
In one of my favorite comic strips, a character named Wiley sits under a tree, writing a poem called "The Seed." Let me read some of it to you.
"A seed is such a miraculous thing," Wiley writes. "It can sit on a shelf forever, but how it knows what to do, when it's stuck in the ground, is what makes it so clever. It draws nutrients from the soil through its roots and gathers its force from the sun."
Wiley then writes about how the seed reproduces itself, and how the new plant receives everything it needs from its environment. In the last panel, Wiley writes, "Perhaps all of this is a product of love." And finally he wonders: "And perhaps it happened by chance" � which he quickly answers, "Yeah, sure."
Imagine that � creation truth in a comic strip! Hart often sparked controversy by incorporating overtly Christian themes and messages like this into his work. Perhaps he set an example that all Christians should follow!
Heavenly Father, even if I'm not in full-time ministry, I know that You want me to share biblical truth with the people I come in contact with. Lord, give me wisdom and boldness to testify what Jesus has done in my life. Amen.
Comic strip reproduced in Bruce Malone's book Search for the Truth, p. A-13 (Search for the Truth Ministries, 2001). Photo: Christian cartoonist Johnny Hart (1931-2007). (Fair Use)
Psalm 146:1-2
"Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul. While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being."
I admit it. I enjoy reading comic strips from time to time. I especially love the single-panel "Far Side" cartoons by Gary Larson. He's one of the only cartoonists who has repeatedly focused on the foolishness of evolution and gotten away with it.
But perhaps my favorite cartoonist is the late Johnny Hart. He is famous for his award-winning "B.C." and "Wizard of Id" comic strips. Chuck Colson once referred to Hart as "the most widely read Christian of our time."
In one of my favorite comic strips, a character named Wiley sits under a tree, writing a poem called "The Seed." Let me read some of it to you.
"A seed is such a miraculous thing," Wiley writes. "It can sit on a shelf forever, but how it knows what to do, when it's stuck in the ground, is what makes it so clever. It draws nutrients from the soil through its roots and gathers its force from the sun."
Wiley then writes about how the seed reproduces itself, and how the new plant receives everything it needs from its environment. In the last panel, Wiley writes, "Perhaps all of this is a product of love." And finally he wonders: "And perhaps it happened by chance" � which he quickly answers, "Yeah, sure."
Imagine that � creation truth in a comic strip! Hart often sparked controversy by incorporating overtly Christian themes and messages like this into his work. Perhaps he set an example that all Christians should follow!
Heavenly Father, even if I'm not in full-time ministry, I know that You want me to share biblical truth with the people I come in contact with. Lord, give me wisdom and boldness to testify what Jesus has done in my life. Amen.
Comic strip reproduced in Bruce Malone's book Search for the Truth, p. A-13 (Search for the Truth Ministries, 2001). Photo: Christian cartoonist Johnny Hart (1931-2007). (Fair Use)
ESTEEMED CREATIONISTS DEFEND A YOUNG EARTH
Genesis 2:1-2
"Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made."
On our previous Creation Moments program, we told you about several esteemed scientists with advanced degrees who believe in biblical creation. Today I'm going to tell you what some of these scientists � and others � have said about a recent creation.
First up is Dr. Russell Humphreys, who holds a Ph.D. in physics. He said that the facts of science "support a recent creation and go strongly against the idea of billions of years which the theistic evolutionists uphold."
Dr. Danny Faulkner, with a Ph.D. in astronomy, said he believes "the universe is 6,000 to 8,000 years old" and that "we have a very clear indication from scripture that creation took place in six ordinary days."
Dr. John Baumgardner, with a Ph.D. in geophysics, said this: "To make sense of the world as the Bible lays it out does not allow for millions of years but does require that there be a catastrophe which destroyed all air-breathing land life except for that preserved on Noah's ark."
Finally, with a Ph.D. in chemistry, Dr. Jonathan Sarfati said, "Ninety percent of the methods that have been used to estimate the age of the earth point to an age far less than the billions of years asserted by evolutionists."
As you can see, each scientist comes from a different scientific discipline, and they all accept the Bible's account of creation without hesitation. And there are thousands of other scientists in the U.S. and around the world who agree with them!
Heavenly Father, I pray that You will remind Your followers that it is not shameful to believe in a recent creation. Indeed, there is no shame in believing everything that You have revealed in Your written word! Amen.
Bruce Malone, "Creation Scientists Are Abundant," Search for the Truth, p. V-16 (Search for the Truth Ministries, 2001). The original sources for all of these quotes can be found in Malone's book.
Genesis 2:1-2
"Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made."
On our previous Creation Moments program, we told you about several esteemed scientists with advanced degrees who believe in biblical creation. Today I'm going to tell you what some of these scientists � and others � have said about a recent creation.
First up is Dr. Russell Humphreys, who holds a Ph.D. in physics. He said that the facts of science "support a recent creation and go strongly against the idea of billions of years which the theistic evolutionists uphold."
Dr. Danny Faulkner, with a Ph.D. in astronomy, said he believes "the universe is 6,000 to 8,000 years old" and that "we have a very clear indication from scripture that creation took place in six ordinary days."
Dr. John Baumgardner, with a Ph.D. in geophysics, said this: "To make sense of the world as the Bible lays it out does not allow for millions of years but does require that there be a catastrophe which destroyed all air-breathing land life except for that preserved on Noah's ark."
Finally, with a Ph.D. in chemistry, Dr. Jonathan Sarfati said, "Ninety percent of the methods that have been used to estimate the age of the earth point to an age far less than the billions of years asserted by evolutionists."
As you can see, each scientist comes from a different scientific discipline, and they all accept the Bible's account of creation without hesitation. And there are thousands of other scientists in the U.S. and around the world who agree with them!
Heavenly Father, I pray that You will remind Your followers that it is not shameful to believe in a recent creation. Indeed, there is no shame in believing everything that You have revealed in Your written word! Amen.
Bruce Malone, "Creation Scientists Are Abundant," Search for the Truth, p. V-16 (Search for the Truth Ministries, 2001). The original sources for all of these quotes can be found in Malone's book.
NO REAL SCIENTIST BELIEVES IN CREATION
Colossians 3:23
"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;"
How often have we heard the statement � "No real scientist believes in creation" � as we talk to people about why creation is actually more credible than evolution. If you ever hear someone say something like that, you'll want to listen closely to what I am about to share with you today.
When Ph.D. scientist Russell Humphreys was asked to estimate how many practicing scientists believe in biblical creation, he said: "It's a conservative estimate that there are in the U.S.A. alone around 10,000 practicing scientists who are biblical creationists." And he said this over 15 years ago. This means so there are now many thousands more.
In the book Search for Truth, author Bruce Malone lists many esteemed scientists who are biblical creationists. In addition to Dr. Humphreys, Malone mentions: Dr. Danny Faulkner, who has a Ph.D. in astronomy; Dr. John Baumgardner, with a Ph.D. in geophysics and space physics; Dr. Andrew Snelling, who has a Ph.D. in geology; and Dr. Eric Norman, a pioneer in vitamin B12 research and who holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry.
I don't have time today to tell you about other highly credentialed scientists mentioned in Malone's book who believe in creation. Each and every one has published numerous papers in journals related to their fields of expertise. And each one has said some startling things about biblical creation and evolution that I will share with you on our next broadcast. You won't want to miss it.
Heavenly Father, I pray that You will draw many more creationists into the sciences so they might glorify Your Name and show evolutionists that real scientists do, in fact, believe in biblical creation! Amen.
Bruce Malone, "Creation Scientists Are Abundant," Search for the Truth, p. V-16, (Search for the Truth Ministries, 2001). Photo: Creationist Russell Humphreys, with a Ph.D. in physics, has worked for General Electric and Sandia National Laboratories in nuclear physics, where he received a patent and a science award.
Colossians 3:23
"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;"
How often have we heard the statement � "No real scientist believes in creation" � as we talk to people about why creation is actually more credible than evolution. If you ever hear someone say something like that, you'll want to listen closely to what I am about to share with you today.
When Ph.D. scientist Russell Humphreys was asked to estimate how many practicing scientists believe in biblical creation, he said: "It's a conservative estimate that there are in the U.S.A. alone around 10,000 practicing scientists who are biblical creationists." And he said this over 15 years ago. This means so there are now many thousands more.
In the book Search for Truth, author Bruce Malone lists many esteemed scientists who are biblical creationists. In addition to Dr. Humphreys, Malone mentions: Dr. Danny Faulkner, who has a Ph.D. in astronomy; Dr. John Baumgardner, with a Ph.D. in geophysics and space physics; Dr. Andrew Snelling, who has a Ph.D. in geology; and Dr. Eric Norman, a pioneer in vitamin B12 research and who holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry.
I don't have time today to tell you about other highly credentialed scientists mentioned in Malone's book who believe in creation. Each and every one has published numerous papers in journals related to their fields of expertise. And each one has said some startling things about biblical creation and evolution that I will share with you on our next broadcast. You won't want to miss it.
Heavenly Father, I pray that You will draw many more creationists into the sciences so they might glorify Your Name and show evolutionists that real scientists do, in fact, believe in biblical creation! Amen.
Bruce Malone, "Creation Scientists Are Abundant," Search for the Truth, p. V-16, (Search for the Truth Ministries, 2001). Photo: Creationist Russell Humphreys, with a Ph.D. in physics, has worked for General Electric and Sandia National Laboratories in nuclear physics, where he received a patent and a science award.
EASTER ISLAND HEADS � NOT JUST ANOTHER PRETTY FACE
2 Timothy 2:15
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
Today on Creation Moments we bring you a bit of old news. I mean really old news. Though this news is nearly a hundred years old, few people even today know that the massive stone heads on Easter Island are actually sitting atop tall stone bodies buried in the ground.
The statues � carved from volcanic rock between A.D. 1100 and 1500 and put in place by Polynesians on Easter Island � range in size from 3 feet to a towering 33 feet in height. The largest statue � named El Gigante � tips the scales at about 165 tons.
In 1919 pictures of the first excavations to Easter Island revealed that some of the heads were full sized. But over the following decades, the discoveries were gradually forgotten. Since 2010, the Easter Island Statue Project has been excavating two of the buried bodies. According to project director Jo Ann Van Tilburg, most people think the statues are only heads because there are 150 of them buried up to the shoulders on the slope of a volcano, "and these are the most famous, most beautiful and most photographed of all the Easter Island statues."
Think of it � if archaeologists had never dug deeper, they would not have uncovered the whole truth about these massive stone statues. Similarly, if we want to get a more complete understanding of what the Bible teaches, we need to dig deeper. In-depth Bible study takes time and work. But it is well worth the effort!
Heavenly Father, I desire to know You better. Help me to make diligent study of the Bible a top priority in my life. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Natalie Wolchover, "Do the Easter Island Heads Really Have Bodies?", LiveScience, 9/25/12. Photo: Courtesy of Aurbina. (PD)
2 Timothy 2:15
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
Today on Creation Moments we bring you a bit of old news. I mean really old news. Though this news is nearly a hundred years old, few people even today know that the massive stone heads on Easter Island are actually sitting atop tall stone bodies buried in the ground.
The statues � carved from volcanic rock between A.D. 1100 and 1500 and put in place by Polynesians on Easter Island � range in size from 3 feet to a towering 33 feet in height. The largest statue � named El Gigante � tips the scales at about 165 tons.
In 1919 pictures of the first excavations to Easter Island revealed that some of the heads were full sized. But over the following decades, the discoveries were gradually forgotten. Since 2010, the Easter Island Statue Project has been excavating two of the buried bodies. According to project director Jo Ann Van Tilburg, most people think the statues are only heads because there are 150 of them buried up to the shoulders on the slope of a volcano, "and these are the most famous, most beautiful and most photographed of all the Easter Island statues."
Think of it � if archaeologists had never dug deeper, they would not have uncovered the whole truth about these massive stone statues. Similarly, if we want to get a more complete understanding of what the Bible teaches, we need to dig deeper. In-depth Bible study takes time and work. But it is well worth the effort!
Heavenly Father, I desire to know You better. Help me to make diligent study of the Bible a top priority in my life. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Natalie Wolchover, "Do the Easter Island Heads Really Have Bodies?", LiveScience, 9/25/12. Photo: Courtesy of Aurbina. (PD)
BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY ALL NEW PROPHECY AND CREATION DESIGN WEBSITES. THERE IS A LOT TO SEE AND DO..........
No comments:
Post a Comment