LITERALLY MAKING YOURSELF SICK
1 Peter 5:7
“Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you.”
We sometimes hear of a person worrying so much about something that they become obsessed with fear. We talk about someone being “worried sick.”
A number of studies have now confirmed that continued grief, worry, or fear can literally make us sick. Scientists are even learning just how this works. A state of worry, fear, or grief causes chemical changes in the brain, pituitary gland and adrenal glands. These changes ultimately have the effect of weakening our immune system that protects us from disease. As a result, a wandering cold or flu bug – or even a skin infection that might be easily handled by our immune system – can get out of control.
Continued fear, worry or grief can also cripple our body’s ability to fight cancer – something scientists tell us our bodies are doing all the time. Other changes in blood chemistry during these periods can also increase the risk of stroke or heart attack.
While worry over circumstances will not help in the least, it does mean that we have forgotten – or perhaps never understood – that it is God who is in charge and not ourselves. Yes, He is in charge of everything in this universe. While God always wants us to learn from the circumstances, He loves us and even invites us to cast all our worries and concerns on Him.
Dear Heavenly Father, I confess that I often forget how intimately involved in my life You want to be. Give me increased faith to cast all my cares on You and not take them back to myself after a little while. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Gina Maranto, “Emotions: How They Affect Your Body,” Discover, November 1984, pp. 35-38. Photo: Courtesy of Ignas Kukenys. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
1 Peter 5:7
“Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you.”
We sometimes hear of a person worrying so much about something that they become obsessed with fear. We talk about someone being “worried sick.”
A number of studies have now confirmed that continued grief, worry, or fear can literally make us sick. Scientists are even learning just how this works. A state of worry, fear, or grief causes chemical changes in the brain, pituitary gland and adrenal glands. These changes ultimately have the effect of weakening our immune system that protects us from disease. As a result, a wandering cold or flu bug – or even a skin infection that might be easily handled by our immune system – can get out of control.
Continued fear, worry or grief can also cripple our body’s ability to fight cancer – something scientists tell us our bodies are doing all the time. Other changes in blood chemistry during these periods can also increase the risk of stroke or heart attack.
While worry over circumstances will not help in the least, it does mean that we have forgotten – or perhaps never understood – that it is God who is in charge and not ourselves. Yes, He is in charge of everything in this universe. While God always wants us to learn from the circumstances, He loves us and even invites us to cast all our worries and concerns on Him.
Dear Heavenly Father, I confess that I often forget how intimately involved in my life You want to be. Give me increased faith to cast all my cares on You and not take them back to myself after a little while. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Gina Maranto, “Emotions: How They Affect Your Body,” Discover, November 1984, pp. 35-38. Photo: Courtesy of Ignas Kukenys. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
CHRISTIAN THOUGHTS ON A TRIP TO MARS
Genesis 1:28
“And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”
In July of 1969, people all over the Earth watched the first astronauts land on the moon. Twenty years later, the first President Bush challenged the American people to make a manned landing on the planet Mars. It was acknowledged that it would take the astronauts nine months to get to Mars and part of the plan would be to use the natural resources of Mars once they were there.
But what should Christians think about the effort to land on Mars? Is it a waste of effort that could be better used on Earth? Did God intend man to remain on Earth only? In Genesis 1:28 God gave man the commission to “subdue the Earth.” Many Christians call this “the great science commission.” However, He did say “Earth,” not the moon or Mars and, thus, thoughtful Christians are divided on this issue. Nevertheless, exploration of God’s creation is fulfilling the natural desire He has placed within us. Historically, it has always been the case that man’s efforts are blessed when we give Him the glory. To be sure, the Bible became the first book to travel to the moon; but in future exploration, will God be given the glory for His creation?
So far, practically every extra-terrestrial discovery made has supported the creation account and caused problems for evolution. That certainly proclaims God’s glory and justifies space exploration.
Lord, thank You for Your protection for those brave individuals who have been involved in space exploration. I ask that You would continue to move faithful Christian young people to be involved in science so that You can use our space efforts to glorify Yourself. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Photo: Astronaut Bruce McCandless II outside the United States Space Shuttle Challenger in 1984. Courtesy of NASA.
Genesis 1:28
“And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”
In July of 1969, people all over the Earth watched the first astronauts land on the moon. Twenty years later, the first President Bush challenged the American people to make a manned landing on the planet Mars. It was acknowledged that it would take the astronauts nine months to get to Mars and part of the plan would be to use the natural resources of Mars once they were there.
But what should Christians think about the effort to land on Mars? Is it a waste of effort that could be better used on Earth? Did God intend man to remain on Earth only? In Genesis 1:28 God gave man the commission to “subdue the Earth.” Many Christians call this “the great science commission.” However, He did say “Earth,” not the moon or Mars and, thus, thoughtful Christians are divided on this issue. Nevertheless, exploration of God’s creation is fulfilling the natural desire He has placed within us. Historically, it has always been the case that man’s efforts are blessed when we give Him the glory. To be sure, the Bible became the first book to travel to the moon; but in future exploration, will God be given the glory for His creation?
So far, practically every extra-terrestrial discovery made has supported the creation account and caused problems for evolution. That certainly proclaims God’s glory and justifies space exploration.
Lord, thank You for Your protection for those brave individuals who have been involved in space exploration. I ask that You would continue to move faithful Christian young people to be involved in science so that You can use our space efforts to glorify Yourself. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Photo: Astronaut Bruce McCandless II outside the United States Space Shuttle Challenger in 1984. Courtesy of NASA.
ANSWERING YOUNG PEOPLE’S QUESTIONS
Proverbs 22:6
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
Could it be true that we have unwittingly been telling our young people that Christianity is irrelevant? As I present the evidences for creation and explain to young people the problems with evolution, a similar pattern emerges each time. While the material is new to them, it rings true. Soon, the questions start, and they begin to express anger as they realize they have been misled by those teaching evolution.
The words of one young man sum it all up. He told me, “I just wish that my older brother had heard this message a couple of years ago. I talked with him a lot, and I just know that if he knew that the Bible had intelligent answers, he would not have left the church and hurt my parents. As a matter of fact, until I heard you, I was ready to follow him.” Other young people tell similar stories. They grew up learning about creation and Adam and Eve in Sunday school. As they were exposed to evolution, they desperately wanted the Bible to offer an intelligent alternative to evolution. But no one could ever offer it to them.
Our silence seemed to confirm what evolution suggests – Christianity is outdated. Could it be that through our young people the Lord is telling us that we cannot be neutral or ignorant about the question of origins?
Dear Lord, Your truth is all in all. Give Your people a stronger desire to address the questions being asked today with the answers provided by Your Word so that more may see that the Bible offers an intelligent alternative to the thinking of the world. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Photo: Many good books are now available to teach children of all ages the whole truth about evolution.
Proverbs 22:6
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
Could it be true that we have unwittingly been telling our young people that Christianity is irrelevant? As I present the evidences for creation and explain to young people the problems with evolution, a similar pattern emerges each time. While the material is new to them, it rings true. Soon, the questions start, and they begin to express anger as they realize they have been misled by those teaching evolution.
The words of one young man sum it all up. He told me, “I just wish that my older brother had heard this message a couple of years ago. I talked with him a lot, and I just know that if he knew that the Bible had intelligent answers, he would not have left the church and hurt my parents. As a matter of fact, until I heard you, I was ready to follow him.” Other young people tell similar stories. They grew up learning about creation and Adam and Eve in Sunday school. As they were exposed to evolution, they desperately wanted the Bible to offer an intelligent alternative to evolution. But no one could ever offer it to them.
Our silence seemed to confirm what evolution suggests – Christianity is outdated. Could it be that through our young people the Lord is telling us that we cannot be neutral or ignorant about the question of origins?
Dear Lord, Your truth is all in all. Give Your people a stronger desire to address the questions being asked today with the answers provided by Your Word so that more may see that the Bible offers an intelligent alternative to the thinking of the world. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Photo: Many good books are now available to teach children of all ages the whole truth about evolution.
ARE DINOSAURS EXTINCT?
Proverbs 30:18-19
“There are three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not…the way of a serpent on a rock…”
Are dinosaurs extinct? Decide for yourself. In 1911, Dutch explorers returned to the West with stories about huge, man-eating “dragons” that lived on the island of Komodo. This is one of the 13,000 islands that stretch from mainland Asia to New Guinea. Scientists dismissed their stories as impossible – since dragons are the stuff of myth – while if we are to call them dinosaurs, these are said to have been extinct for millions of years.
Eventually, science had to accept the reality of the Komodo dragon. These huge reptiles grow to a length of 11 feet and can weigh 450 pounds after lunch. They are fast enough in short bursts to catch and bring down a wild horse, a deer or a man. They are also good swimmers. In fact, the Komodo dragons have killed and eaten seven men in recent years. They have been known to enter a small village on the island and steal goats. Their layers of serrated teeth harbor microbes that can easily cause a fatal infection, so they eventually catch up with just about anything they bite. If the fossil dinosaurs were anything like the Komodo dragon, we can all be thankful that most of them are no longer around.
Are dinosaurs extinct? It certainly looks as if at least one species of dinosaur under the name of “dragon” is still very much alive.
Dear Lord, as Scripture pictures the devil as “that old dragon,” help me to picture him and everything associated with him as even worse than the Komodo dragon, and help me to flee to You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Photo: Komodo dragons.
Proverbs 30:18-19
“There are three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not…the way of a serpent on a rock…”
Are dinosaurs extinct? Decide for yourself. In 1911, Dutch explorers returned to the West with stories about huge, man-eating “dragons” that lived on the island of Komodo. This is one of the 13,000 islands that stretch from mainland Asia to New Guinea. Scientists dismissed their stories as impossible – since dragons are the stuff of myth – while if we are to call them dinosaurs, these are said to have been extinct for millions of years.
Eventually, science had to accept the reality of the Komodo dragon. These huge reptiles grow to a length of 11 feet and can weigh 450 pounds after lunch. They are fast enough in short bursts to catch and bring down a wild horse, a deer or a man. They are also good swimmers. In fact, the Komodo dragons have killed and eaten seven men in recent years. They have been known to enter a small village on the island and steal goats. Their layers of serrated teeth harbor microbes that can easily cause a fatal infection, so they eventually catch up with just about anything they bite. If the fossil dinosaurs were anything like the Komodo dragon, we can all be thankful that most of them are no longer around.
Are dinosaurs extinct? It certainly looks as if at least one species of dinosaur under the name of “dragon” is still very much alive.
Dear Lord, as Scripture pictures the devil as “that old dragon,” help me to picture him and everything associated with him as even worse than the Komodo dragon, and help me to flee to You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Photo: Komodo dragons.
A LIFE FOR A LIFE
2 Kings 23:10
“And he [Josiah] defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter pass through the fire to Molech.”
Those who take the Bible seriously will recall the numerous passages where God condemns the pagan custom of sacrificing the first-born child to the god Moloch. These children were just weeks or months old and burned alive as an atonement sacrifice; that is, offering one life on behalf of another. The Canaanites slaughtered thousands of children in this way when their nation was threatened. God ordered the complete destruction of the Canaanites.
We might ask, is this a necessary lesson for people living in the enlightened twenty-first century? Sadly, it is because the very same thing is still being practiced in America and the West today. Oh, the names have changed. Molech is not worshipped, while the fires have become the incinerators, but the motive is still the same: a life for a life. Abortion will immediately come to mind where the mother’s lifestyle may continue by the sacrifice of the fetus, as parts, in an incinerator.
However, the national pace of sacrifice is now being accelerated by embryonic stem cell research. Stem cells are harvested from a fertilized human egg, and what remains is disposed of with other tissue in the incinerator. The object of the research is to be able to cure, say, an Alzheimer patient by injecting the brain with stem cells. The principle remains the same: “a life for a life.” God still disapproves.
Lord Jesus, You have called Your people to be good leaven in the world. Enable me to help others to see that our nation is in peril by permitting those same practices that caused the utter destruction of the Canaanites. Amen.
Photo: Babylonian cylinder representing sacrifice of a child to Moloch. Courtesy of Jewish Encyclopedia. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
2 Kings 23:10
“And he [Josiah] defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter pass through the fire to Molech.”
Those who take the Bible seriously will recall the numerous passages where God condemns the pagan custom of sacrificing the first-born child to the god Moloch. These children were just weeks or months old and burned alive as an atonement sacrifice; that is, offering one life on behalf of another. The Canaanites slaughtered thousands of children in this way when their nation was threatened. God ordered the complete destruction of the Canaanites.
We might ask, is this a necessary lesson for people living in the enlightened twenty-first century? Sadly, it is because the very same thing is still being practiced in America and the West today. Oh, the names have changed. Molech is not worshipped, while the fires have become the incinerators, but the motive is still the same: a life for a life. Abortion will immediately come to mind where the mother’s lifestyle may continue by the sacrifice of the fetus, as parts, in an incinerator.
However, the national pace of sacrifice is now being accelerated by embryonic stem cell research. Stem cells are harvested from a fertilized human egg, and what remains is disposed of with other tissue in the incinerator. The object of the research is to be able to cure, say, an Alzheimer patient by injecting the brain with stem cells. The principle remains the same: “a life for a life.” God still disapproves.
Lord Jesus, You have called Your people to be good leaven in the world. Enable me to help others to see that our nation is in peril by permitting those same practices that caused the utter destruction of the Canaanites. Amen.
Photo: Babylonian cylinder representing sacrifice of a child to Moloch. Courtesy of Jewish Encyclopedia. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
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