Wonders in our World
- dedicated to seeking and seeing the wonders and wonder of God.
Sunday, April 19, 2020
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
A Star, A Star Dancing in the Sky
NASA Photo, retouched |
DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE?
A STAR, A STAR DANCING IN THE SKY...
“Where is the one who has
been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to
worship him.”
(Matthew 2:2) So said the wise men to King Herod as they mistakenly sought the
newborn king in Jerusalem. When they were directed by the religious leaders to
the small, nearby village of Bethlehem, “the
star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the
place where the child was. When they saw the star they were overjoyed.”
(verse 9) We do not know how many wise men (magi) traveled to see the Jewish
king but biblical scholars think they were from Persia and familiar with the
Book of Daniel. God had revealed to Daniel, an exiled Jew in Babylon (530 BC)
many mysteries and secrets, which were part of the wisdom literature or
astrological records in Persia.
The Magi: Could it be that the magi,
while observing the heavens and studying the book of Daniel, noticed an
astronomical phenomena which they associated with the impending birth of a
Jewish king in Judea? Did they see a conjunction, which occurred on June 17,
3 BC, between Venus and Jupiter in the constellation of Leo, near the star
Regulus? Leo was the tribal sign of Judah. Jupiter was the king planet for the
Babylonians and the name for Regulus was Sharru the king. Also Venus, named
Ishtar, was the chief Babylonian goddess associated with femininity. Note that they did not follow the star but rather told Herod
that they had seen the star in the East. This portion of their trip then
could have been based on a natural
phenomenon (with the timing ordained by God; see Gal 4:4).
The historical records: There are several
historical reference made in the Bible related to the birth of Christ: a census
ordered by Caesar Augustus; the rule of Quirinius, governor of Syria; and
finally Herod, the king of Judea in Jerusalem. The death of Herod while young
Jesus was in Egypt together with his parents is also mentioned. All these point
to a time period that extends between 6 BC and 1 BC. The traditional date for
Herod’s death has been set around 4BC, which in turn sets the birth of Christ
at 6BC. However, a recent exhaustive study has brought the date of Herod’s
death closer to 1 BC, or even 1 AD (see PSFC
December 2012). During the period 3-2 BC , some astronomical data has
identified the occurrence of a
number of planetary conjunctions one of which could have been the star that the
magi saw in the East.
Trip from Jerusalem to
Bethlehem:
The star reappears during this segment of the trip and seems to be a supernatural phenomenon.
Why? Because it seems to have led them and stopped over the place where
the child was. All this happened only
after the magi were willing to travel to Bethlehem, away from center of
power, in obedience to what the scripture had predicted in Micah 5:2. A miracle
then occurs as a result of their perseverance. God honored the faith of the
magi by directing them to the exact
location of the Christ child. The Wonder of the Star is God’s providential
timing, including both natural events and supernatural guidance, in order to
fulfill his grand purpose for mankind: “For
God so loved the world, he gave his only begotten son that all those who
believe on him shall not be lost but have eternal life” John 3:16
For a short, more detailed description of the Star of Bethlehem see: What was the Star of Bethlehem?
Friday, December 14, 2012
Living Forever
Turritopsis Nutricula |
LIVING FOREVER
The question of eternal life has intrigued humans from the
beginning. In fact, concern about life beyond death seems to be one of the
distinguishing marks of being human. Although we live within a linear time
framework with a beginning and an end, our souls long for more, for eternal
significance, meaning and life. God has made us in his image and given us his
‘nephesh’ (breath of life) which pulls us toward Him as the source of all that
is eternal. Perhaps at one time mankind had the potential to live forever.
After sin entered the Garden of Eden through Eve and then Adam, God said, “Man (Adam) must not be allowed to reach out
his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” (Genesis 3:12) What was this 'Tree of
Life’? How would it have enabled Adam to live forever? Could it be something
genetic and could the science of genetics eventually unlock this key?
There is a member of the animal kingdom that can potentially live
forever? It is a tiny hydrozoan (about 0.18 inch maximum diameter) that lives
at the bottom of the ocean and is called the ‘immortal jellyfish’ (Turritopsis
Nutricula). When adverse conditions threaten the Turritopsis, it is able to
reverse its sexual mature medussa stage and return to the immature polyp stage
through a process called cellular transdifferentiation, where one type of cell
changes into another type. In this way it is able to begin the growth process
again, like the fictional character Benjamin Button, who began to grow younger
after reaching maturity. The process is poorly understood by scientists and it
is not known whether stem cells are involved.
The author of Ecclesiastes looks long and hard at the meaning of
life, often with a skeptical eye. He writes, “For everything there is a time, and a season for every activity under
heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to
uproot....” Following a poetic description of the significance of the
passage of time, he adds, “God has made everything beautiful in
its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men.” (Eccl 3:1-3, 11)
Although the idea of living forever in my physical body on earth
is not particularly appealing, nor is the idea of endless cycles of
reincarnation, the vision expressed by Apostle Paul offers a hope that gives
meaning and direction to my life. “When
the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with
immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: Death has been
swallowed up in victory.” (I Corinthians 15:54)
To learn more about the Turritopsis nutricula (or dohrnii) see the New York Times article: Can a jellyfish unlock the secret of immortality?
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Biomimetics: Learning from Nature (continued)
Peregrine Falcon in flight |
BIOMIMETICS: LEARNING FROM NATURE
Electric eels:
When an eel locates its prey, it opens a series of cellular gates, through
which ions (potassium) flow. This movement of charged ions creates an electric
current when the eel is in a conductive solution, such as water. Researchers have
experimented with artificial proto-cells that, like real living cells, have
membranes that control the flow of ions similar to the eel’s. As reported in
Advanced Materials (see News in Science), the researchers were able to generate
electricity, which could eventually be used in a new battery design.
Insects and Aerodynamic Maneuverability: There are insects that are capable of taking off
backwards, flying sideways, and landing upside down. The physiological and
anatomical specialization of these insects is poorly understood. However, the
greatest puzzle is how flapping wings can generate enough force to keep the
insect in the air. Wind tunnel tests of insects show that simple flapping of
the insect wing does not generate enough force to let the animal fly. Their
secret was found to lie in the fact that insect wings add two rotational
mechanisms that provide a potent force for the insect to remain aloft (Science
18, June 1999, Vol 284, pp 1954-1960).
The Peregrine Falcon is considered the fastest creature in the animal kingdom. When the
falcon locates its prey while in flight, it tucks in its wings and dives
towards the prey at speeds exceeding 150 miles an hour! With that speed, the
falcon reaches its prey with precision, catches it with its claws and takes
off. This bird’s flight skills are the envy of pilots, who are limited to
rigid-wing aircraft. In a previous Blog on feathers, we described the unusual
aerodynamic features of bird feathers, which are partly responsible for the
falcon’s speed. The Goshawk on the other hand, can fly through dense forests
inches above the ground with great speed and such delicate maneuverability that
its wings do not touch the trees through which it flies. This allows the hawk to
literally cruise through a challenging obstacle course with ease. ThIs 3 minute video (Peregrine Falcon & Goshawk in flight) shows these two hawks in flight, captured by Australian photographers. The
capabilities of these creatures demonstrate again God’s design and care for His
Creation, the wonder of his works.
Psalm 104:24 speaks of God’s
special care for all his of creatures. “In
wisdom you made them all, the earth is full of your creatures”. As we study
nature, we find many designs that can be mimicked by engineers and scientists
in their work. It would be wonderful if these scientists would also give credit
and honor to the ‘patent holder’ – God.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Learning Innovation from Nature - Biomimetics
LEARNING INNOVATION FROM NATURE – BIOMIMETICS
The term biomimetics
comes from the Greek word ‘bios’
meaning ‘life’ and ‘mimetic’ which
means ‘having an aptitude for mimicry”. It was coined by Otto Schmitt during
the 1950’s to describe a process being used by scientists and engineers.
Biomimetics is the science of studying the structure and function of biological
systems in order to develop models for designs in material science, machines,
medicine and other fields.
As they gain
understanding of how plants and animals function in nature, engineers and
scientists find mimicking these functions often creates more efficient technologies.
Below are two interesting examples.
The scorpion’s armor in harsh, desert
conditions. Machines in the
desert are subject to erosion through particles of dirt and sand that work
their way into moving parts. It was discovered that scorpions protect their
bodies with bumpy, grooved exoskeletons in serious desert sand storms where
manmade machines would quickly breakdown. To reduce rubbing from airborne sand,
the patterns on the scorpion’s armor modify the way that air flows over the
scorpion’s back, thus reducing damage to the exoskeleton. Engineers have found
that simulating these natural patterns found on scorpions helps to avoid sand
damage on machines.
Sunflower heads, and optimum arrangement of
mirrors in solar power towers.
Solar power stations operate with a large number of mirrors arranged around a
tower, focusing solar energy on a central tower. The working fluid on the top
of the tower converts the liquid into steam, which then turns a turbine thus
generating electric power. The distribution of these mirrors (exceeding 400 in
number) requires large acreage. Seeking to reduce the space required for the
mirrors, engineers stumbled on a design pattern used by sunflower heads, which
follows Fermat’s principle, i.e, a spiral in which each element is set at a
constant angle of 137 degrees. When researchers programmed their model to
arrange these mirrors around the tower, the new spiral arrangement improved the
efficiency of the solar energy collection process by reducing the space
required.
Both the scorpion
and the sunflower, not often considered important in our fast-paced lives, demonstrate the care with which they were designed. As he
taught the crowds gathered on a hillside in Galilee, Jesus said, “Why do you
worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or
spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like
one of these.” (Matthew 6:29) If God so carefully designed these living things, does He not also have a design for your life? "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." (Jeremiah 29:11)
References are from Sci
American podcast, News in Science, The Economist (on the Fermat’s spiral-Google).
Thursday, November 8, 2012
A Miracle in the Womb
FROM CONCEPTION TO BIRTH - A MIRACLE
"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.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depth of the earth,
Your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be."
Psalm 139:13-16
Friday, November 2, 2012
Birth and Death of Stars
Orion Nebula & Star Cluster |
BIRTH AND DEATH OF STARS
Stars, like all life on earth, go through the cycle of birth and death, with a finite life span in between. Physics Today recently published an article describing this cycle for stars and clusters of stars. The article speculates that the number of stars in the million year age group, reveal that star formation has increased in the past 10 million years. Our sun is one star that belongs to the so-called main sequence group that constitutes mature stars. Unstable young, hot stars and cooler red stars that are in the twilight of their lives constitute the other groups.
The phenomenon of giant gas clouds giving birth to stars is especially strong in the constellation of Orion. Most constellations visible to the naked eye are composed of stars at vastly different distances from the earth. They do exhibit patterns that have been named from antiquity, such as the Big Dipper. If one takes the statement given in Genesis 1:14 literally (“Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky…to serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years"), some of these constellations may represent signs in the sky of events that have taken place or will do so in the future. For astronomers however, these are ‘chance juxtapositions of stars at vastly different distances’. However, there are two constellations, the Orion Nebula cluster and the Pleiades, famously known as the Seven Sisters, that form true physical associations. What is fascinating about these clusters, especially the Orion Nebula cluster, is that new stars are being formed in these clusters today. They are classified by astronomers as young ‘OB associations’, which represent the hottest stars in the universe.
The life and death cycle of stars is controlled by the well-known Second Law of Thermodynamics. This simply states that all natural phenomena proceed from an initial stage of order to one of disorder. In other words, the universe as a whole is slowly winding down, from an initial burst of super energy at creation. Psalm 102: 25-26 states: “…in the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth and heavens…they will all wear out like a garment”. What is even more fascinating is that Orion and the Pleiades are the two constellations mentioned explicitly in the book of Job (38:31) where God tells Job: “...can you bind the beautiful Pleiades? Can you loose the cords of Orion?” Today we find that both constellations have special significance for astronomers, as true clusters where young stars are being born. Here again we see the wonders in the universe, as observed and analyzed by astronomers, and those wonders mentioned in Scriptures as part of God’s eternal plan.
For details see Physics Today, October 2012:Physics Today
Monday, October 29, 2012
Rainbows: Optical Wonders
RAINBOWS: OPTICAL WONDERS
The awe-inspiring sight of a rainbow has brought comfort and hope to people for thousands of years. Wordsworth wrote in an 1802 poem, “My heart leaps up when I behold a rainbow in the sky…” Though the rainbow can cause us to look up in wonder, it can be easily understood scientifically.
The two basic ingredients of a rainbow are sunlight, particularly from a low angle, and water droplets. That is why rainbows appear after a rain shower. When the sun appears through the clouds, sunlight enters millions of water droplets bending at a slight angle because of the different densities of air and water (index of refraction), bounces off the back surfaces (reflection) of the droplets and then fans out into different colors in different directions upon exiting the droplets, deflected in the process (dispersion). This dispersion happens because each color has a different wavelength. White light is composed of a mixture of wavelengths each of which will refract at a different angle, thus creating the rainbow effect.
The visible colors of the rainbow are always arrayed in the same order beginning from the outer bow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. Sometimes you can see a secondary rainbow, above the primary one. Its color order is reversed because the light within the droplet is refracted twice before it is dispersed. Rainbows can be circular. The ground cuts our rainbows in half, but if you view from above the ground, perhaps from a hot air balloon, you can see the full circular rainbow.
After Newton explained the optical science of rainbows, the poet John Keats was dismayed. He wrote a poem in 1820 entitled Lamia, declaring that the scientific explanation had removed all the beauty and mystery from this wonder.
“…Philosophy (science) will clip an Angel’s wings,
Conquer all mysteries by rule and line,
Empty the haunted air and the gnomed mine –
Unweave the rainbow.”
Rather than removing the wonder, understanding the optics only adds to the awe of the rainbow. The rainbow is a sign of God’s love for the world (Genesis 9:12-16) and at the same time, demonstrates the amazing science of optics.
For more detailed analysis of the optics of rainbows, open this link in Wikipedia: Snell's Law of Refraction
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Leaving in Glory
LEAVING IN GLORY
Here in the Rocky Mountains we are enjoying glorious fall colors as the aspen shimmer in the sunshine, flinging their golden leaves to the winds. These trees exhibit an explosion of color before the white curtain of winter snow descends. As I enjoy the artistry of this annual event, I ponder what I can learn from these beautiful trees about life and death?
The yellow color of the aspen leaf (carotenoid) has been present all through the summer, but remained hidden by the stronger green. Chlorophyll, the molecule that causes the green color, has been busy all summer photosynthesizing (putting together with light) sunlight and carbon dioxide, which produces glucose (sugars) and oxygen. This process is necessary for growth and life. But when the sun dips in the sky and the nights grow longer, the connection between the branch and the leaf is slowly cut off, corked up ‘so to speak’. As the amount of chlorophyll subsides, the yellow carotenoid becomes visible. When the sun shines through the golden aspen leaves on a clear day, the tree almost glows. It is beautiful.
Recently I attended a funeral for a friend, taken much too early by lung cancer. Although his life was shortened by cancer, he still touched many, from the homeless, to farmers, suburbanites, pastors, Bible teachers, and beyond. As his friends gathered to remember this dear Christian brother, a humble, gentle scholar, I was struck by the way he blessed us all, even in his death. I left the service feeling spiritually fed.
As the aspen tree begins to close down for the winter, preparing for the harsh days ahead, it does so with a glorious burst of color. I am reminded that soon my life will also end. My prayer is that, like the golden aspen leaf, as my life on earth grows weaker, the glory of Jesus Christ might grow stronger. John the Baptist said, “He must become greater, I must become less.” (John 3:30) In allowing Him to increase, His glory will become evident bringing joy and blessing to others.
Friday, September 21, 2012
Rising to the Top
RISING TO THE
TOP
What lifts around 4 tons of water to a height of 300 feet
every day, silently and without any moving parts? This amazing feat is accomplished by the millions of tiny
tubes called xylem, micrometers in
diameter, in the trunk of the Giant Sequoia tree. Three natural processes
combine to enable water (with nutrients) to reach the farthest reaches of these
magnificent trees.
Capillary action: The cohesive properties of water make
capillary action possible. The simple water molecule, H2O, happens
to be electrically polarized, which means it acts like a tiny magnet. When a
group of water molecules stick together, surface tension results. Surface tension is one reason rain drops form
round shapes, or insects can glide over water. This polarity also helps water
molecules adhere to certain surfaces, like glass. Conversely, water is repelled
from other molecules like oil. Water in a thin glass tube hugs the interior
glass surface and moves up the tube forming a meniscus. This
demonstrates what is called capillary action. The thinner the tube, the higher
the water can rise. This is how water behaves in the xylem of the tree.
Adding to the
strength of capillary action, trees along with all other plants are made up of
cellulose, which is also polar. (Cellulose is made up of oxygen-hydrogen and
hydroxyl chains. It is the hydrogen-bonding interactions between water and
cellulose, with its hydroxyl side-chains
that provide an energetic gain against the gravity.) This allows the
water to ‘hug’ the cellulosic part of the tree as the water climbs. In fact,
trees are ‘masters of microfluids.’ The tiny tubes get narrower as the tree
grows taller, allowing for water to continue climbing until its pressure
decreases as it fights it own weight (gravity). This limits the height of the
tree.
Two other processes
contribute to the rise of water in the tree: evaporation in the leaves of the
tree pulls the water up; osmosis in the roots of the tree pulls water and
nutrients into the tree. All this is done without the tree making a sound or
using any moving parts. In fact on a global scale, the movement of water
through plants makes a major contribution to the hydrologic cycle by providing
the particular pathway by which water moves from soil to the atmosphere (see
Ref. below).
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord.
He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the
stream.” (Jeremiah 17:7)
Jesus said if we believe in him “streams
of living water will flow from within.” (John 7:37) The amazing process that occurs
silently within trees, illustrates the power that is ours in Jesus Christ, as
we allow the living water of his spirit to flow through us.
-----------------------------------
For more information
see: ‘Transporting water to the tops of
trees’ Physics Today, January 2008; Tree Physics 1: capillary action, the height of trees and the optimal placement of
branches:/npand.worpress.com/2008/08/05/tree-physics-1; and also
www.dacid1neslon.md/zadero/Trees&Capillary Action.htm
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
The Stones Cry Out
During his final week on earth, Christ entered Jerusalem as a King - riding on a donkey! This graphic and unexpected entry enraged the ‘powers that be,’ particularly the religious leaders. Here was a man, a miracle-working man, who spoke with authority and had a large following, entering their territory, with humility and riding on a donkey. It was too much! They were beside themselves when the people bought into the narrative and shouted out, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord.” They urged Jesus to tell his followers to shut up! But Jesus replied, “If they keep quite, the stones will cry out.” How can an inanimate aggregate of minerals cry out? How can the ‘stones’ reflect God’s glory?
In 1985 we visited Russia, then under the sway of Marxist-Leninist atheistic philosophy. Most of the churches had either been closed, or were used for storage or as museums. One of the most beautiful churches in all of Russia, St. Isaac’s Cathedral in St. Petersburg, was open as a tourist attraction. A Foucault Pendulum had been hung from the highest point of its dome and the church was being used to show the superiority of science, the god of the Soviet Union. While foreign tourists stood in the center of the church, watching the swinging ball, local Russians stared at the cathedral’s walls. On its walls were the most exquisite mosaics I have ever seen, depicting scenes from the Bible. In those days, it was impossible to find a Bible in Soviet Russia, so this was the only ‘bible’ the people had. Like the religious leaders of Jesus’ time, the atheistic leaders of Soviet Russia miscalculated when trying to suppress God’s glory - and the stones were crying out.
St. Isaac's Cathedral; painting by Surikov |
Stones or ‘lithos’ (Greek) have two characteristics which make them wonderful symbols. First they are long-lasting, almost eternal when viewed from our short life span. Second, they are firm or steady and represent a solid foundation. Jesus told a story about a wise man who built his life on ‘the rock.’ Jesus is represented in the Bible as the ‘stone which the builders rejected,’ but those who build their life on him have an eternal, firm foundation and cannot be shaken. “I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed.” Isaiah 28:16
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Four Amazing Features of Feathers
Male Indian Peafowl (Courtesy of Creative Commons Attribution - Share Alike 2.5 Generic) |
FOUR AMAZING FEATURES OF FEATHERS
Field
biologist Thor Hanson recently published a book on the nature and functions of
bird feathers and their amazing structures. The four functions feathers perform
and their complex structure are marvels of ingenuity that defy the most
advanced human technologies, to such a degree that they clearly indicate a
master designer.
The four primary functions identified by Thor Hanson
are:
1-Insulation,
protecting the fragile bodies of birds
2-Water
proofing for birds that swim
3-Aerodynamic
features to enable a smooth, energy conserving flight
4-Ornamental
colors, for attracting mates (mostly males attracting females).
Feathers are made of fibrous proteins called keratin.
As they start to grow they are connected to blood vessels over the skin of baby
chicks for transporting nutrition and aiding growth. Once mature, they are
disconnected from the blood source. The insulating properties of feathers are
legendary. No wonder the warmest blankets are stuffed with feathers! When
Hansen carefully plucked the feathers of a tiny, dead wren, he counted as many
as 1500 feathers covering the body!
The waterproofing feature of a water-adapted bird,
such as a duck, is just as marvelous. The water repellent function of these
feathers is not only based on their oily-ness but is also a result of a unique structure.
Even after washing the feather with a mild acid solution, it still retains its
waterproof qualities. As for the
aerodynamic features of these feathers, it has been shown that each individual
feather has the shape of an airfoil, the very engineering design that enables
airplanes to fly! In fact, the wings of eagles have such an amazing aerodynamic
design that the bird easily flies, even in turbulent weather. Airplane pilots avoid such weather, but
the eagle uses it to soar! The incredible variety of colors adorning a bird is
itself a miracle to behold. The ultimate example of extravagance in color and
beauty is the peacock.
Such a common thing as a feather declares the
artistry and engineering genius of the Creator God. No wonder scripture uses
the metaphor of feathers to express some of God’s most intimate care and
protection of His children. “He will
cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge.”
Psalm 91:4
Thor Hanson's book, Feathers: the Evolution of a Natural Miracle, can be found on Amazon.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Chance or Design? Amazing Feats inside the Human Body
Purkinje neurons - masters of motor coordination Photo by: Annie Cavanagh |
CHANCE OR DESIGN?
Amazing Feats inside the Human Body
Amazing Feats inside the Human Body
I never stop being amazed at the complexity, intricacy and engineering marvel of the human body. The human body contains upwards of 10 trillion cells. Each cell, too small for the naked eye to see (0.001 cm3), works as a chemical factory performing thousands of functions, often in a fraction of a second, coordinating each function with thousands of neighboring cells. Each cell can replicate itself within 24 hours. The cell controls hundreds of millions of biochemical and biomechanical events per life cycle. When replacing its DNA, the tiny bacterium E. Coli, copies 1000 nucleotides per second with very few mistakes. Compare this to the robots we have sent to Mars, which are called ‘marvels of human design’. They are about the size of a small car (a billion times larger than a cell), able to do many hundreds of functions, but unable to replicate themselves. Yet atheistic evolutionists consider the cell a result of undirected, random processes.
The information content of these trillion cells operating as a ‘well oiled machine’ is more than all accumulated knowledge of mankind (estimated to contain bits of information with ten raised to the two millionth power). Our brain, the organ that processes information, controls the body functions and is the seat of our consciousness is made up of 80-120 billion neurons. Each neuron made up of 100,000 molecules, and each neuron has thousands of connections to its neighbor neurons (called axons and synapses).
Another critical organ, the human heart, pumps 22 liters (6 quarts) of blood through 96,000 miles of arteries and capillaries, beats 100,000 times in 24 hrs and continues to do so for an average lifespan of 80 years, without repair. Which man-made pump can match such a feat? And yet, some consider this unique organ to be the result of unguided, random processes developed over eons of time.
These are just a few examples of the wonders in God’s world exhibited in our own bodies. The Psalmist wrote in worship and wonder, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful”. Psalm 139:14.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Who is El-Shaddai?
WHO IS EL-SHADDAI?
There are a number of attributes that characterize the God of the bible. To help one appreciate and remember His
greatness, four outstanding characteristics can be expressed using four words,
all starting with the letter “P”.
God is Powerful: He created trillions upon trillions of stars, in a trillion
galaxies spanning the vastness of the universe. An average star emits energies
at its surface, equivalent to multi-megaton hydrogen bombs - every second!
Prophet Isaiah informs us in chapter 40, that God measures the vast universe
with the palm of his hand, and calls each star by name, such that none may be
lost (in science we call this the law of conservation of mass and energy).
God is Purposeful: He is the intelligent designer that has created
everything in nature purposefully. Our privileged planet, the earth, is just
one example among many. Its precise distance from the sun allows water to exist
in liquid form, which in turn allows for life to emerge and prosper. The location
of the sun at the edge of the Milky Way galaxy, and its distance from other
suns, allows for stable planetary orbits. In addition, the distance from nearby
stars allows for a dark night to exist on earth and enables astronomers to
explore the heavens and discover its mysteries.
God is
Personal: He created mankind in his
image in order to be able to communicate with us, both through his creation and
through his Word. He endows his creatures with wisdom and honor to enable them
to become creators and communicators themselves.
God is a
Provider: He cares for his creatures
through his love exhibited in nature and in his Word. Although he can count and name the
trillion upon trillion stars, he assures us that even the hairs on our head are
counted! Again, in chapter 40 of Isaiah, it says that ”he gives strength to the
weary and increases the power of the weak”. The most incomprehensible
demonstration of his love happened when he visited planet earth in the person
of Jesus Christ, who lived, suffered and died to save mankind from death and who
offers instead, abundant life, to all who accept his gift.
Friday, August 3, 2012
Porous Boundaries
POROUS BOUNDARIES
What is the largest organ in the human
body? The usual answer is ‘the lungs’ or ‘the intestines’ or ‘the stomach’. But
surprisingly, the largest organ in our bodies is our skin! It is so much a part
of our being that we forget it is there. Yet the skin is our first line of
defense against infection, warns us of danger through its trillions of neural
endings and keeps us comfortable through temperature regulation. Our skin provides
a physical boundary between us and the outside world. Boundaries are sensitive areas. Geopolitical
boundaries are defended vigorously and often violently. Personal boundaries,
when crossed, are met with resentment. We need boundaries to establish our
limits as well as to restrain the evil of which we are capable.
When we look beyond our earth’s boundary, the atmosphere, and gaze at the heavens, boundaries seem to disappear. Space appears infinite. Apart from the stars, galaxies and gases, the universe appears to consist of vast areas of empty space. One of Einstein’s amazing insights was that space and time are intimately connected, and that space is not empty, but provides the structure for objects to move through time. Space is not nothing, but can be likened to a fabric that can bend, ripple and stretch. (The illustration above shows how planet earth alters the fabric of space. It also shows the Gravity Probe B, which provided the final proof of the space-time hypothesis.) Perhaps the illustration we can best understand is to compare space to water. A fish is not aware of the concept of water, but feels its effects and interacts with it naturally. For a fish, water is the medium through which he moves.
When we look beyond our earth’s boundary, the atmosphere, and gaze at the heavens, boundaries seem to disappear. Space appears infinite. Apart from the stars, galaxies and gases, the universe appears to consist of vast areas of empty space. One of Einstein’s amazing insights was that space and time are intimately connected, and that space is not empty, but provides the structure for objects to move through time. Space is not nothing, but can be likened to a fabric that can bend, ripple and stretch. (The illustration above shows how planet earth alters the fabric of space. It also shows the Gravity Probe B, which provided the final proof of the space-time hypothesis.) Perhaps the illustration we can best understand is to compare space to water. A fish is not aware of the concept of water, but feels its effects and interacts with it naturally. For a fish, water is the medium through which he moves.
This new
understanding of space is called the space-time
continuum. In a recent Nova program on PBS titled “The Fabric of the
Cosmos”, Brian Greene explores the new physics, which is beginning to show
just how porous and interactive the boundaries are in our universe. It is
fascinating stuff! The Apostle
Paul, when speaking to a skeptical audience in Athens said, “(God) determined the times set for mankind
and the exact places where they should live. (He set boundaries.) God did this so that men would seek him and
perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of
us. For in him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:26-28) I love
to think of God, the creator of space and time, surrounding us like space.
Although in our daily lives we don’t see space or even think about it, it is
there. Perhaps if we only had the eyes to see, we could see a reality all around
us, close enough to touch. Imagine being able to reach out through the porous
boundaries of the space-time continuum and touch God.
To watch the PBS program in full (55 minutes): What is Space? featuring Dr. Brian Green
For a
shorter explanation of space see: PBS Interview with Dr. Brian Greene
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