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Genesis Reports - September 2021
Engineers and Their Designer
9/16/2021by Terri Kammerzell
Truth of Genesis Ministry Partner
Sometimes, when the world around you is so chaotic and seems nothing but dismal, it’s a good idea to find—or make—some reasons to celebrate. Apparently, that was somebody’s mindset who works for an outlet called “National Day Calendar,” because back in 2017 they decided to celebrate each state, one per week, by setting aside a “National [state] Day” for fifty consecutive weeks. It works out well that New York’s “special day” to celebrate is this week (September 21), because it gives me a chance to introduce you to my Fun Fact about New York’s official state mammal: the beaver.What is unique about a beaver’s eyes?
A beaver has clear eyelids that close over its eyes when submerged.Beavers aren’t the only animals with multiple sets of eyelids. Polar bears, camels, and kangaroos are among some of the other species God equipped with multiple layers to cover their peepers. And did you know that since most geckos don’t have any eyelids, they lick their own eyes to clean them?!When I’ve introduced my animal Fun Facts in the past (such as the giraffe, the bombardier beetle, the chuckwalla lizard, and the woodpecker), I’ve focused on their irreducible complexity which points to an all-or-nothing design plan. When it comes to the beaver, what fascinates me even more is what an inspiration it is! Biomimicry is when engineers, inventors, and other scientists design and produce systems, structures, and processes based on models they observe in nature. Curiously, while it takes a designer to design these “mimicked” productions, many people don’t acknowledge the original Designer behind the inspiring design.One example of the beaver’s design worth copying is its insulation system which has inspired people to create wetsuits to keep divers and other sea explorers and adventurers warm. Another example is the industry of beavers. Sometimes referred to as “nature’s engineers,” beavers set great examples for bridge building and ecosystem designs.God’s Word is filled with special revelation for us to learn more about Him and draw closer to Him, but His world is filled with general revelation for us to learn about His creativity in design and to understand Him from what has been made. It all points back to Romans 1:20: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse” (NKJV). Beavers may be “nature’s engineers,” but we know the Designer made them as an original model for us to follow.
Don’t just take my word for it! Visit YouFormedMe.com/theories/cataclysm.html to read, watch, and listen to supporting research and commentary from scientists, doctors, theologians, and more!
This blog is from a special series of “Creation Fun Facts” by Terri Kammerzell, starting from June 10, 2020. Read the introduction at TruthOfGenesis.com/blogs/building-a-biblical-defense-of-creation.
Labor, Then Rest
9/3/2021by Terri Kammerzell
Truth of Genesis Ministry Partner
This Monday the U.S. will observe its 140th annual Labor Day celebration, a holiday born out of the need to celebrate overworked and underpaid laborers during the Industrial Revolution, when “the average American worked 12-hour days and seven-day weeks in order to eke out a basic living.” History.com also explains: “Despite restrictions in some states, children as young as 5 or 6 toiled in mills, factories and mines across the country, earning a fraction of their adult counterparts’ wages.” Working conditions all across the U.S. were so poor, and tensions among workers rose so high, that eventually labor unions arose, and labor laws were made. Nobody knows for certain who gets the credit of the first Labor Day celebration in 1882, but it wasn’t until 1894 that President Grover Cleveland officially signed the holiday into law.[1]Here’s a question I’m wondering: Why was it a problem for workers to work seven-day work weeks? Hmmm… Could it be that much earlier in history a pattern was established for people to take one day off each week to rest? Indeed! That brings me to this week’s Fun Fact:What is one verse that tells us both how long it took God to create everything and what He did right after?
Genesis 2:3 tells us that “God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work, which God had created and made” (NKJV).Those six days were very full days. So full that some people have a really hard time believing God could have done everything listed in Genesis 1 in just six days. They try to impose long ages into the text and try to reinterpret the Hebrew word for day (yom) with a meaning other than a 24-hour day. Scientifically, there is no evidence to support long ages, and when you start with a worldview that God works supernaturally, it is perfectly consistent—even scientifically—that all those miraculous events took place in just about 144 hours! Theologically, there are a lot of problems with trying to reinterpret Genesis 1, with implications that not only undermine but even negate the work of Christ on the cross. We’ll talk about these issues more over the next few weeks when I introduce my Gap Theory and Day-Age Theory Fun Facts.In the meantime, let’s turn our attention back to Genesis 2:3. By the seventh day, God had already finished His work of Creation. Everything He created was good, and He took a day to rest. We see in other places of the Bible (Exodus 20:8-11; Leviticus 23:3; Hebrews 4:4; etc.) that this seventh day, this day of rest, this Sabbath, was important to God. Today, many Christians observe a weekly day of rest, whether on Saturday or Sunday. This Monday, when you take the day off to reward yourself for your past year of labor, remember to make a little time to appreciate the Creator’s labor during those first six days of history, including the beautiful nature around you. Also make time to thank Him for His omniscience in setting the standard for weekly rest.
Don’t just take my word for it! Visit YouFormedMe.com/theories/cataclysm.html to read, watch, and listen to supporting research and commentary from scientists, doctors, theologians, and more!
This blog is from a special series of “Creation Fun Facts” by Terri Kammerzell, starting from June 10, 2020. Read the introduction at TruthOfGenesis.com/blogs/building-a-biblical-defense-of-creation.
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Genesis Reports - August 2021
Earth’s Great Cataclysm
8/27/2021by Terri Kammerzell
Truth of Genesis Ministry Partner
This last week was “Vesuvius Day,” marking the 1942nd anniversary of the recorded date of the historical burial of the city of Pompeii. According to History.com, an estimated 13,000 or more people were killed in this catastrophic event, rated 8th in the deadliest volcanic eruptions measured in history. Although it’s hard to know with great certainty, some historians and paleontologists estimate that at the time of the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, there were about 195 million people on the earth. While 13,000 is a large number of lives to have lost, that’s just 0.0067 percent of the earth’s population. But it was tragic. And certainly catastrophic. A regional catastrophe.[1]In comparison, the deadliest recorded volcanic eruption was Indonesia’s Mt. Tambora in 1815. The devastation was so terrible that 1815 became known as “the year without summer,” and it caused a great famine. All told, some people estimate the death toll (from the eruption and its consequences) to be as high as a quarter of a million people. Given the world’s population at the time of that eruption, that meant about 0.024 percent of the earth’s population were victims of that tragic and catastrophic event. It was another regional catastrophe.[2]But long before either of those catastrophes, there was another event that wiped out almost 100% of the life on earth. Of humans, only eight remained. Of animals, only two of each kind. I am speaking of the global flood of Noah’s day, recorded in Genesis chapters 6-9. Four times in the New Testament, that flood is referred to using the Greek word kataklusmos.[3] This is the origin of our word “cataclysm.” Which brings me to this week’s Fun Fact:What is the definition of cataclysm?
Cataclysm is a sudden, violent change or disaster.Although, to be fair, this fact certainly isn’t “fun.” But it is definitely fundamental. Many people (even some professed Christians) argue that the flood of Noah’s day was not a global event and that it did not wipe out almost 100% of the earth’s population. Some say it was a local or regional event. But, from a Scriptural perspective, there are at least two problems with that idea.First, that idea contradicts the account of Genesis 7:19-23, which describe the flood waters as prevailing “exceedingly on the earth” and the earth as “all the high hills under the whole heaven were covered.” About life on the earth, verse 23 says, “So He destroyed all living things which were on the face of the ground: both man and cattle, creeping thing and bird of the air. They were destroyed from the earth. Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained alive” (NKJV). That doesn’t sound like a regional catastrophe to me. That’s the description of a global cataclysm.Second, that idea contradicts the covenant God made with Noah in Genesis 9:1-17. He set His rainbow in the cloud and told Noah that every time the rainbow is seen in the clouds, He will remember His covenant: “the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh” (v. 15). If the flood of Noah’s day had been a regional event, then God would have broken His promise over and over again since then because there have been many catastrophic and fatal regional floods since that time.Additionally, as scientists continue to study both observational (current) science and historical (past) science, they have discovered that the flood of Noah was, indeed, a cataclysmic event. The whole earth was in upheaval. In fact, the engineering department at Liberty University is working on building a simulation model of what may have taken place during the Great Flood. They speculate that “the thousands of miles’ worth of seafloor spreading responsible for today’s igneous ocean crust must also have unfolded during the Flood cataclysm,” and that the “Genesis Flood . . . also included rapid and large-scale plate motions that produced thousands of miles of continental displacement.”[4]Words have meaning. They are important in communication. And equally important is understanding the differences between them, especially when their origin is in the Bible, and used to communicate something very specific. Our word cataclysm comes from the Greek kataklusmos, which is a word so special it was specifically reserved only for mentioning Noah’s flood. This was no ordinary event. This was no regional catastrophe. It was a global cataclysm.Most importantly, the flood of Noah was used in the gospel to reveal the omnipotence of God, as well as both His judgment and mercy. God was merciful to spare Noah and his family and to let the inhabitants of earth have a second chance. God continues to demonstrate that same mercy to us each day by forgiving our sins and patiently waiting for us to turn to Him. But a day will come when we will once again see the wrath of God. A day when, as Paul describes, “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11). Make sure you’re ready for that judgment day. If you need help, visit this website.
Don’t just take my word for it! Visit YouFormedMe.com/theories/cataclysm.html to read, watch, and listen to supporting research and commentary from scientists, doctors, theologians, and more!
This blog is from a special series of “Creation Fun Facts” by Terri Kammerzell, starting from June 10, 2020. Read the introduction at TruthOfGenesis.com/blogs/building-a-biblical-defense-of-creation.
[1] https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/vesuvius-erupts
[2] https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/volcanoes/facts/biggest-eruption.html
[3] Matthew 24:38-39; Luke 17:27; 2 Peter 2:5
[4] https://www.liberty.edu/engineering/research/simulating-genesis-flood/
Even the Wind Praises the Lord
8/20/2021by Terri Kammerzell
Truth of Genesis Ministry Partner
As I write this week’s edition of my “Fun Fact” blog, I’m living vicariously through friends who are climbing Mt. Saint Helens today as part of the celebration of the brand new Dinosaur & Fossil Museum at the Mt. Saint Helens Creation Center. What views they must be enjoying from their sky-high landings! I, on the other hand, am sitting in my low California valley, enjoying unseasonably cool weather with a nice breeze. I can hear windchimes and the rustling of the wind through the trees. I’m reminded of several things:First, I keep humming and singing a verse of a song I learned as a child: “The Whistle Song” from Music Machine – The Fruit of the Spirit.Pop bottles sing when you blow on the top
Tug boats, too, and the traffic cop
Even the wind in the treetops sings
Songs of praise to the King of Kings.It also makes me think of the passage in Romans 1 when Paul reminds us that God has revealed Himself to us in nature. (I’ve covered that Fun Fact before.) Even the wind sings His praises, which makes sense because the Bible commands all of creation to praise the Lord. Psalm 148:13 (ESV) “Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above earth and heaven”. And Amos 4:13 tells us He creates the wind: “For behold, he who forms the mountains and creates the wind, and declares to man what is his thought, who makes the morning darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth—the LORD, the God of hosts, is his name!” And in Matthew 8:27 and Mark 4:41, His disciples observed the truth that even the wind obeys the Lord.I’m also reflecting on the fact that this coming Monday is “National Ride the Wind Day,” the 44th anniversary of the first human-powered flight to win the “Kremer Prize” (a monetary prize given to pioneers of human-powered flight). On August 23, 1977, hang-gliding pilot Bryan Allen successfully navigated a figure-eight course in Shafter, CA, flying the Gossamer Condor built by Dr. Paul B. MacCready. His success has been an inspiration for human adventures and inventions, so that now every year people use the final days of the warm August weather to enjoy “riding the wind.” Here are some ways you can celebrate this year:• With your young ones, fly a kite, blow bubbles, or have a paper airplane competition.
• Take to the skies for hang gliding, skydiving, or even bungee jumping.
• Take to the water for sailing, parasailing, or windsurfing.
• Go for a drive and find a real windmill to take a selfie or family photo with.
• Were there a road, you could drive to the sun, but even at a rate of 60 mph, it would take you over 150 years. So that’s not very likely an option. Instead, you can explore the resources of my Psalm 19:1 Fun Fact:What do the heavens declare?
“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.” --Psalm 19:1 (NKJV)According to Gotquestions.org, “The word heavens can be used to refer to different realms. Heavens can refer to the sky and the earth’s atmosphere, making it the “first heaven” (Deuteronomy 11:11; Psalm 104:12; Isaiah 55:10).” So the wind is a good reminder of His handiwork.The last thing I’m recalling on this nice breezy day is the first time I heard Dr. Jason Lisle speak. It was January of 2010, and not only had I never heard of him before, but it had been a while since I’d paid much attention to Creation apologetics at all. He was visiting a local church with Ken Ham, and as a new homeschool mom, I wanted to make sure my fifth-grade son got to hear the presentations at the Creation conference. I took him to an evening talk on “The Heavens Declare.” Wow!! do they ever!! I tried to remember as many facts as I could from that presentation, but it wasn’t easy. That’s one of the reasons for the YouFormedMe.com website, so that whenever you need to reference facts to support the beliefs I know to be true, you have an easy place to go.So, this weekend, take a little time to learn more about the heavens that declare God’s glory and the wind that obeys His commands and sings His praises. Then go out and make use of the beautiful world God has created for you to enjoy!
Don’t just take my word for it! Visit YouFormedMe.com/theories/cataclysm.html to read, watch, and listen to supporting research and commentary from scientists, doctors, theologians, and more!
This blog is from a special series of “Creation Fun Facts” by Terri Kammerzell, starting from June 10, 2020. Read the introduction at TruthOfGenesis.com/blogs/building-a-biblical-defense-of-creation.
On the One Hand
8/13/2021by Terri Kammerzell
Truth of Genesis Ministry Partner
Cheers to all of you corrie-fisted, sinister-handed southpaws! Today is “International Lefthanders Day,” meant as a day for those whose left hand is their strong one. A day to remember the struggles they face in a world designed for righthanded people. A day to celebrate their uniqueness and triumph in learning to cope and adjust to the challenges many of us overlook.A day also perfect for remembering how ingenious our Designer was when He created each of our hands!What makes the human hand a work of wonder?
The human hand has a unique arrangement of bones, tendons, muscles, and nerves which allows it to move fast enough to type over sixty words per minute, and to grasp with both force and delicacy.If you visit the hand Fun Fact page on my website, you’ll find all sorts of great online resources to learn more about the intricate design, but my favorite tidbits about the hand come from one of my favorite paperback books, called Inspired by Evidence: Only One Reality. Written by Julie Von Velt and Bruce Malone of Search for the Truth, this book is designed as a year-long daily devotional to equip people with knowledge about the truth of God’s design in multiple aspects, including anatomy, Christian truths, microbiology, physics, and more.The June 27th devotion focuses on the human hand, telling that it “is one of the most wonderful and precise mechanical devices in all of creation.” Among other examples of its amazing design, each hand• has fine motor control, using more nerves to control fewer muscles. “For example, in our thigh muscle we typically have one nerve controlling over 100 muscle fibers, while in our hands, we typically have one nerve controlling 10 muscle fibers.”
• has a full range of movement, from straight fingers to tightly curved fingers.
• has an opposable thumb, making the human hand very flexible. Try it: each of your fingertips can touch your thumb. “The human thumb and finger are sized and shaped to give a perfect circular pinch grip.”
• is controlled by a larger area in your brain than those of other animals, such as apes. “The purpose of the human hand is completely different from the purpose of the ape hand. Human hands were designed to perform skillful tasks, while the ape’s hands were designed for climbing and ambling.”Most of all, I love this quote they include from “real scientist” Sir Isaac Newton: “In the absence of any other proof, the thumb alone would convince me of God’s existence.”
Don’t just take my word for it! Visit YouFormedMe.com/theories/cataclysm.html to read, watch, and listen to supporting research and commentary from scientists, doctors, theologians, and more!
This blog is from a special series of “Creation Fun Facts” by Terri Kammerzell, starting from June 10, 2020. Read the introduction at TruthOfGenesis.com/blogs/building-a-biblical-defense-of-creation.
Every Dollar. Every Moment. Every Thing.
8/6/2021by Terri Kammerzell
Truth of Genesis Ministry Partner
Did you know this Sunday is National Dollar Day? Why? You can learn more at the Library of Congress, but the standard for the U.S. Dollar was set on August 8, 1786. It was declared: “That the money unit of the United States, being by the resolve of Congress of the 6th July, 1785, a dollar, shall contain of fine silver, three hundred and seventy-five grains, and sixty-four hundredths of a grain.” You can also use the #NationalDollarDay hashtag on social media to find trivia about your U.S. dollars, find ways to spend your U.S. dollars, and even find a website to track the traveling history of your U.S. dollars!But you can also keep reading this post for ideas about what the Lord would have you do with your dollars. And, for that matter, your time and talents. As I’ve been introducing my 49 Fun Facts to you, some have prompted more interesting information to support them, while others have called for more of an application.In fact, this week I’m only writing for people who believe they were created by the Lord, and that the Bible is true from cover to cover. To people who believe what Genesis 1:28 says, that God gave us dominion over the earth. If that doesn’t describe you, feel free to take a week off. But if it does, let’s keep going:According to the Psalms, what belongs to the Lord?
“The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein.” –Psalm 24:1 (NKJV)If you believe the Bible is true starting with the very first verse, then what about Psalm 24:1? If you believe in a God Who made you for His purpose and made this earth we live on, then do you believe that everything in it belongs to Him and should be used for His glory?I know this is kind of an uncomfortable question for a lot of us, myself included. But if we believe in a God Who created us and to Whom everyone and everything belongs, what will we do with that? After all, everything means everything. Doesn’t it? Your Energy, your Vision, your Ears, your Riches, Yourself, your Talents, your Health, your Investments, your Nutrition, and your Gross income. EVERYTHING.A few weeks ago, in my reintroduction blog post, I mentioned the fact that everything God gives us in this life, He makes us the stewards of. Oftentimes, we think of this in terms of finances and wealth, but we are the stewards of more than that. We are the stewards of our children, our relationships, our time, our talents, our health, etc. God, in His benevolent grace and wisdom, has allowed us to have these things to bring glory to Him. Are we doing that? In honor of National Dollar Day, let’s talk more specifically about the finances over which we are each stewards.I have a good friend who is a financial advisor and believes very strongly in Biblically Responsible Investing (BRI). Similar to its secular counterpart of Socially Responsible Investing (SRI), BRI is a strategy in which an investor only allows his money to be invested in companies which align with his principles. However, SRI is a method that adapts to the whims and tides of culture and moral relativity. With BRI, investors align their investments with the unchanging principles of God’s Word. That means they don’t buy shares in companies that promote or fund the devaluation of human life (abortion, euthanasia, etc.), the dismantling of the biblically established “nuclear” family, etc. BRI is a great strategy for Christians to follow. If you haven’t heard of it or aren’t already set up with a Christian financial advisor who assists you with BRI, you can learn more about the investment approach here. In fact, I recently helped my same financial advisor friend create a board game to teach not just BRI, but Christian financial stewardship. Called “YAH’s Money Counts,” the game teaches families what the Bible says about our resources and how, since they all belong to the Lord (Psalm 24:1), we should use them for His glory. You can learn more about the YMC board game here.But how about spending? Do your spending habits also reflect the fact that you are a steward of resources that belong to the Lord? When you go shopping, are you giving money to a company that uses their money to openly support and advocate for the socialist goal to dismantle the nuclear family?** Are you getting your caffeine fix at a company that funds the murder of the unborn? Are you paying for streaming services that have no qualms about including programming to indoctrinate children to normalize unbiblical, sinful lifestyles? Are you making your purchases or sending money through a company that is actively working to silence Christians from speaking the truth of His Word?For some of us, some of these choices are easier to make than others. After all, it’s easy not to visit Disneyland when you can’t afford to. My friend told me this week that he cancelled his PayPal account, but admitted it wasn’t hard to do since he doesn’t use it much. For me, never buying Starbucks is easy since the world and I can’t handle myself on that much caffeine anyway.But there are some that are more challenging. It was a sacrifice for me to give up Netflix since there are shows exclusive to their network that I really enjoyed watching. As a Star Wars fan, I’ve felt a little left out on the sidelines hearing people talk about the great series streaming on Disney+. And where do we draw the line between being a good steward with our time when it comes to the convenience of Amazon subscriptions?So here are my challenges to you (and to myself!):
Pray for wisdom and discernment when it comes to using your time, talent, and treasure. You are the stewards of these things, and while God is the ultimate owner of them, He has trusted you with them.
Use Philippians 4:8 as a guide: “Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things” (HCSB). . . . Is that really a movie or show or book which is deserving of the time God has given you? Do you need to see that movie or subscribe to that streaming service, or are there better options?
Educate yourself. Make sure you know what the people you’re giving your money to are doing with it. You can start by visiting 2ndVote.com to check company scores which are rated based on six criteria that usually matter to Christians: education, environment, life, basic freedoms, 2nd Amendment, and border security/immigration. If the information you need isn’t there, you can also visit the websites of individual companies; scroll to the bottom and find their corporate info links. Usually, you can find something about the impact they are making in their communities.
Make small changes. Maybe this week you make your own Folgers Coffee instead of ordering your drive-through Grande mocha (you’ll probably even save time and money!). Or next week, try Papa John’s pizza instead of Pizza Hut. Or when Christmas approaches, see if some of the gifts on your list could come from Hobby Lobby instead of Target. Plan your next vacation to the Ark Encounter or a local Creation learning center. Eventually, you’ll get into the habit. (Can you imagine the impact Christians could have on this world if they really channeled their collective pocketbook voting power?!)
Give yourself grace. Let’s admit it, this is a fallen world, and it’s probably impossible for Christians to never ever spend any dollar in a way that it won’t end up contributing to some anti-biblical cause. And sometimes we do have to weigh our stewardship responsibilities of time vs. money. There isn’t always a perfect option, or the same perfect option for each person. In that case, refer to #1.I hope this has been a helpful eye-opener to get us all thinking about the fact that everything (every dollar, every moment, every thing) belongs to the Lord. Next week, we’ll turn our attention to something a little more fun: what makes the human hand a work of wonder.
Don’t just take my word for it! Visit YouFormedMe.com/theories/cataclysm.html to read, watch, and listen to supporting research and commentary from scientists, doctors, theologians, and more!
This blog is from a special series of “Creation Fun Facts” by Terri Kammerzell, starting from June 10, 2020. Read the introduction at TruthOfGenesis.com/blogs/building-a-biblical-defense-of-creation.
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Genesis Reports - July 2021
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
7/30/2021by Terri Kammerzell
Truth of Genesis Ministry Partner
This Sunday, August 1, is American Family Day, an annual holiday established by Arizona Governor Raul Castro in 1977. I wanted to take the opportunity of the holiday to briefly introduce my Fun Fact about Psalm 139:14 and the value of life.What did the Psalmist say about the way God made him?
Psalm 139:14 says, “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well” (NKJV).I have discussed this topic before, especially when introducing Ernst Haeckel (“The Bloodiest Hands in Human History”) and also Genesis 2:7 (“The Value of a Man”). In the first, I emphasized the consistency of evolutionary beliefs that lead a person to view human life as the product of random chance chemical combinations, and nothing more valuable than that. A worldview that accepts the notion that human beings evolved slowly from other less-advanced animals necessarily leads to a conclusion that there is nothing special about human beings, so why would the life of a human being—whether outside or inside the womb—have value?On the other hand, Genesis 2:7 describes the uniqueness of man, and that God created him from the dust of the ground. Man’s value comes from a Creator God Who breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. Who designed man for His glory. Who gives humankind dignity and purpose and value. Who fearfully and wonderfully makes each person in the womb. A worldview that acknowledges this truth necessarily leads to a conclusion that human beings have special value, and that life is to be treasured.Arizona got that right too, when the current Governor, Doug Ducey, signed into law Senate Bill 1457 earlier this year, making it illegal for healthcare providers to perform abortions based on genetic conditions. “There’s immeasurable value in every single life—regardless of genetic makeup,” said Governor Ducey. “We will continue to prioritize protecting life in our preborn children, and this legislation goes a long way in protecting real human lives” (tinyurl.com/AZSB1547).“Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.” That second half of Psalm 139:14 reiterates the common theme of the Psalms: the Psalmists knew God was the Maker of the world and all life. There is no doubt about it: from the first man to the most recently born, from conception to the grave, every human being has a soul, and no soul is excused from recognizing the Creator (Romans 1:20).You don’t have to live in Arizona to celebrate your family this Sunday. In fact, several other states (including Georgia and North Carolina) have adopted their own similar holiday. You can use the #AmericanFamilyDay hashtag to find out how some people are celebrating or visit this iMOM page to find ten suggestions to celebrate your own family
Don’t just take my word for it! Visit YouFormedMe.com/theories/cataclysm.html to read, watch, and listen to supporting research and commentary from scientists, doctors, theologians, and more!
This blog is from a special series of “Creation Fun Facts” by Terri Kammerzell, starting from June 10, 2020. Read the introduction at TruthOfGenesis.com/blogs/building-a-biblical-defense-of-creation.
The Moon and More
7/23/2021by Terri Kammerzell
Truth of Genesis Ministry Partner
This past Tuesday was the 52nd anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing on the moon. Astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins had reached their destination, and Armstrong reported back to Earth, “Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.” Armstrong and Aldrin became the first two humans to walk on the surface of the moon, so now every July 20 is remembered as “National Moon Day.”I thought, appropriately, this would be the best week to introduce you to my Fun Fact about our solar system.
What makes up our solar system?
Our solar system is made up of a sun and everything that orbits it, including eight planets and their moons, asteroids, comets, centaurs, trans-Neptunian objects, and dust.Some of those things might sound a little “foreign” to you, so I thought I’d just break them down with some trivia about each:
The Sun: Did you know that the sun makes up 99.8% of the mass of our solar system? Here’s a fun analogy: “If a 10-pound bowling ball represented the mass of the sun, then all the planets, moons, comets, and asteroids could be represented by one nickel and one penny. Jupiter would be the nickel” (Guide to the Universe 28).
The Planets: In order from the sun out are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. The largest planet (by surface area) is Jupiter. The smallest is Mars. (Earth is fifth.) In a previous blog post, I explained the atmospheric makeup of each of the planets, which contributes to the strong scientific likelihood that Earth is the only planet in our solar system that supports intelligent life.
Their Moons: Moons are also called “natural satellites” and “come in many shapes, sizes, and types. They are generally solid bodies, and few have atmospheres” (“Moons”). Each planet has a different number of moons, except Mercury and Venus, which don’t have any. Jupiter and Saturn are tied for the most confirmed moons, each having 53.
Asteroids: Asteroids is a Greek word meaning “star-like,” and was first proposed by William Herschel in the early 1800s. Astrophysicist Dr. Jason Lisle says, “We now know of hundreds of thousands of asteroids that orbit the sun. Ceres is the largest asteroid, whereas most are only a few miles across” (“Worlds of Creation”).
Comets: Dr. Lisle explains that “Comets are icy objects and generally have extremely elliptical orbits. They might spend many years (perhaps hundreds of years) in the outer regions of the solar system, swinging by the inner solar system for only a few months.” Something I find interesting is that “meteor showers are generally caused by the debris left behind by a comet” (“The Stargazer’s Guide” 38f)!
Centaurs: Centaurs are “small solar system bodies that have characteristics intermediate between that of an asteroid and a comet.” Dr. Lisle explains that the name is fitting because “in Greek mythology, a centaur was a creature with the lower body of a horse, and the upper body of a human” (“Worlds of Creation”).
Trans-Neptunian Objects: These are objects orbiting beyond Neptune and referred to as TNOs for short. Dr. Lisle says that “Pluto was the first TNO discovered, and no others were found for many decades. But we now know of hundreds of TNOs” (“Worlds of Creation”).
Dust: Dust is everywhere, even in space! Although in your house you might equate dust with “dirt,” it’s not dirty in space. Some forms of dust that you might be familiar with are the loose dust that covers the surface of the moon and the “dust tails” of comets.It really is a remarkable world in which we live! So remarkable, in fact, that the Psalmist said, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork” (19:1 NKJV). And, Isaac Newton, arguably one of the greatest scientists who ever lived, said, “The wonderful relationships of the sun, the planets, and the comets could only have come into existence according to the plan and instructions of an omniscient and omnipotent Being” (Gitt 70).“You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.” --Revelation 4:11 (NKJV)
Don’t just take my word for it! Visit YouFormedMe.com/theories/cataclysm.html to read, watch, and listen to supporting research and commentary from scientists, doctors, theologians, and more!
This blog is from a special series of “Creation Fun Facts” by Terri Kammerzell, starting from June 10, 2020. Read the introduction at TruthOfGenesis.com/blogs/building-a-biblical-defense-of-creation.
Blog Post Sources:
Gitt, Werner. Stars and Their Purpose. Master Books, 2006.
Guide to the Universe. ICR, 2016.
Lisle, Jason. The Stargazer’s Guide to the Night Sky. Master Books, 2021.
---. “Worlds of Creation: The History of Discovery.” The Biblical Science Institute. 13
Mar 2020. biblicalscienceinstitute.com/astronomy/worlds-of-creation-the-history-of-discovery/. Accessed 21 Jul 2021.
“Moons.” Nasa Science: Solar System Exploration. solarsystem.nasa.gov/moons/in-depth/. Accessed 21 Jul 2021.
In Focus
7/16/2021by Terri Kammerzell
Truth of Genesis Ministry Partner
A little over a year ago, I started writing a blog for the Truth of Genesis website at the request of my friend Dave Powell. I was happy to introduce to the world my evidence-based Creation “Fun Facts:” 49 fundamental facts that demonstrate evidence for the biblical account of Creation as recorded in the straightforward reading of Genesis. In my first post, I explained how I came to understand why we need to be ready to give a biblical defense for Creation.If you followed along for the next six months, you may know I explained that Darwinian evolution doesn’t even qualify as a scientific “theory” and why the observations he made of the finches in the Galapagos actually just supported the biblical command we see for animals to produce “after their kind.” I introduced you to the truth of irreducible complexity and how we can observe it in the giraffe, the bombardier beetle, the chuckwalla lizard, the woodpecker, and the human brain, heart, and eye. I demonstrated how the observable processes of gene depletion and entropy support Creation and not evolution. Similarly, I showed that the fossil record and laying down of sedimentary rock also go against evolutionary ideas. I debunked the ideas of the “hopeful monster theory”, that the Big Bang could be compatible with the Bible, and I discussed the uniqueness of Earth’s atmosphere opposed to the possibility that intelligent life could exist on other planets. I also talked about the fact that while we’re living in a Romans 1 world, we need to keep up our guard and hold to our faith, remembering that the same God Who could have brought all the animals--even the dinosaurs—onto Noah’s Ark could also keep and protect us from the storms we’re facing now. Our hope in the Lord’s salvation can be just as strong today as it was for Noah. Finally, I introduced you to “real scientists” Johannes Kepler and Louis Pasteur and also pointed out the dire consequences of the fraudulent work of scientists of the past, such as Ernst Haeckel. But most importantly, I shared how Jesus’ own words in the New Testament confirmed the Creation account as found in Genesis chapters 1 and 2.And then I took what I thought was going to be a short sabbatical. But just as Proverbs 16:9 says, “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” (NKJV), God had other plans for my time. So what I thought would be about a month turned into seven.During that time I have had some health struggles and was diagnosed with a chronic illness. I had to learn about how to take care of myself, what was necessary to get myself through the flare-up I was having, and now how to do my part to prevent another flare-up. It’s been an educational time for me, but it has also come with some struggles, both physical and emotional, as well as a time of great blessings which reminded me of God’s faithfulness: directly to me and also indirectly using other people in the family of God to help encourage and support when needed.Briefly, I wanted to share three things I have learned these past seven months:God is still in control. This past year and a half have been full of such a bizarre turn of events. In some ways, I have felt like God used the pandemic as our own modern-day Tower of Babel. For a time, He redrew the boundaries of countries and made sure we stayed (for the most part) within our lines. But I also have this image in my mind of God gathering us (within each country) all into a giant paper bag, shaking it up real hard, and then pouring us back out. Some people came through it bruised and beaten, some resilient and ready to take on the world. But new lines have been drawn. People have learned which of their beliefs are actually convictions. In the marketplace of commerce and industry, jobs we once esteemed as prestigious have been found to be unessential, while some “grunt” workers have proven to be a much-needed part of society. Families and friends have had to face the realities of different worldviews and reassess their relationships. Some churches have learned the hard truth of the consequences of taking up our crosses and following Jesus. But in the end, no matter what has happened in 2020 and 2021, whether related to the pandemic or not, one thing we can all know to be true: God is still in control. Not one thing that has happened has surprised Him. He is the Creator of us, and He will be the Judge. Neither those truths nor His faithful, consistent nature from the beginning of time to the end, have changed.Time with the Lord is essential. During these past seven months, my concentration and focus have taken a beating. There have been numerous days when—to my own disappointment and sometimes to the disappointment of others who rely on me—I have been reduced to the very basic of essentials: sleeping, eating, and time with the Lord. Not one of those three things is indispensable. We know that Jesus told us in Matthew 4:4, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (NKJV). Let me tell you, from an emotional and psychological point of view, there were times that, had it not been for my time with the Lord, I wouldn’t have been able to keep going. My hope would have failed, and my faith would have fallen apart. Our emotional and physical health are so intertwined. When one suffers, so does the other. God has the answer. He is the answer.Even our struggles belong to Him. There were times, early in these seven months, when I didn’t have answers. Even now, there are a few questions I have which will probably never be answered this side of Heaven. During the time that I knew something was wrong but had no idea what it was or what I could do about it, it would have been easy to ask, “Why is this happening to me?” But all I kept thinking about were Paul’s word in 2 Corinthians 1, when he says that God “comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (v.4 NKJV). Taking out the self-pity, I still asked, “Why is this happening to me?” Except my emphasis was, “How can I use this struggle to help other people in the future?” Psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is the Lord’s and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein” (NKJV). Just as God makes us stewards over our finances, possessions, children, etc., He gives us struggles to steward as well. In His great grace and mercy, He allows us to endure trials and tribulations so that we can become more patient and perseverant (James 1, Romans 5).Now that I’m ready to get back to it, I’m looking forward to sharing the rest of my 49 Fun Facts with you over the coming months. I hope you’ll stick with me as I continue to keep the Lord and the truth of His Word in focus!
This blog is from a special series of “Creation Fun Facts” by Terri Kammerzell, starting from June 10, 2020. Read the introduction at TruthOfGenesis.com/blogs/building-a-biblical-defense-of-creation.
Genesis Reports - February 2021
George Washington Carver
2/5/2021Dave Powell
Director Truth of Genesis
This month, as we celebrate black history, we would like to commemorate a black scientist who was a person of God as well as a person of science—George Washington Carver. Carver was born into slavery near the town of Diamond, Missouri July 12th, 1864.1 An interesting and tragic fact is that the infant George and his mother were kidnapped by civil war guerillas, like William Quantrill or Jesse James. These men fought against union or anti-slavery sympathizers like George’s future foster father Moses Carver. Moses sent a Union scout after the pair to rescue them from the bandits. Only George was able to be found, and his mother’s fate was never known. The Carvers took George and his brother Jim into their home and raised them as their own.George was a sickly child and spent time helping his foster mother Susan Carver around the house and in the garden. George became known around the village of Diamond as the “Plant Doctor.”2 The Carvers recognized George’s special gift for learning and applying his inquisitive nature. They did what they could to educate him and nurture his interests. However, George felt the need to pursue learning and life elsewhere beginning at the age of 14. Despite his foster parents’ objections, he set out on an adventure that would find him meandering around Kansas.His path was not a straight one. He did many things to support himself over the next decade including cooking, housework, laundry service, working at a grocery, homesteading etc. He seemed to find encouragement and assistance most everywhere he went and wrote affectionately of the people in the places he lived. But he also ran into the harsh reality of racism and mob justice during an instance where he witnessed the lynching of a black man who had been pulled out of jail after being arrested for the rape of a 12-year-old white girl. He left town immediately afterward. During his time in Kansas, he took a brief trip back home to see his family. A short time later, his brother Jim (the stronger and healthier of the two brothers) died of smallpox. Gone was his only known blood relative.About five years after being rejected by a college because of his skin color, he was encouraged by a Christian family, who he met attending a church in Winterset, Iowa to apply again to another school. Thankfully, he was accepted with open arms into Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa in 1890. He enjoyed his time there and studied piano and art for which he had a talent. He took no science classes. His art teacher noticed his affection for botany because he was always drawing plants. “As it happened, she was the daughter of a horticulture professor at Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts…”3 and as the story goes, the rest is history.He continued to paint at Iowa state, with one of his paintings being chosen to represent the state in the 1893 fair called, the “World’s Columbian Exposition”, also known as the “Chicago World’s Fair”. But he felt as if God was calling him to greater things. He worked with an expert on plant disease and co-authored several scholarly papers while at Iowa State. Carver graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1894 and then a master’s degree in Agriculture two years later. As a master’s student they gave George a graduate teaching position with freshman as he had a gift for teaching. Iowa State didn’t want to lose him, but he had several job offers.The one he accepted was from Booker T. Washington of the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute, now known as Tuskegee University. The reason was clear. He wanted to help black Americans gain economic prosperity. According to Adair, “He believed that the sort of education Tuskegee provided ‘is the key to unlock the Golden door of freedom to our people.’”4 Washington had started an annual conference to help farmers. Carver turned it, the results of his study, and work at the Tuskegee experiment station into a monthly “Farmers Institute”.5Carver excelled as a teacher, wanting his students to be actively involved in their learning and discover for themselves, stating, “each individual, no matter of what his color or creed, has his particular task to do in life”.6 He linked his Christian beliefs with his work as a scientist. “He talked about the way ‘the Creator’ was revealed in the wonders of nature. He believed that science and religion in no way contradicted one another. “‘We get closer to God’, he wrote years later, ‘as we get more intimately and understandingly acquainted with the things he has created.’”7As a scientist, he made a tremendous impact upon the time in which he lived and thereafter. He designed a mobile demonstration lab which was known as the “Jesup Wagon” after Morris K. Jesup, a New York banker who helped fund the project. The project became so successful that it took the notice of the USDA who later took over the project. A student of Carver’s became the USDA’s first black demonstration agent.Dr. Carver (honorary degree) had a servant’s heart, which manifested itself in doing everything he could for the poorest and most vulnerable farmers. He set up trainings, extensions and wrote pamphlets. He knew that the subsistence farmer was very vulnerable to weather, crop disease, and poor soil as well as lack of nutrition. It is one reason he promoted crops other than cotton, which robbed the soil of nutrients, replacing it with crops such as soybeans, peanuts, and sweet potatoes.Those crops and their promotion took him away from his teaching, spending more time in the lab trying to help people by extending the market for their products with 300 or so uses for the peanut and 100 for the sweet potato. This is where he gained his fame and notoriety. His efforts took him so far away that one day he ended up testifying before congress in Washington, D.C. They told him he had ten minutes to speak. He so captivated them with his wit and wisdom that the Republican Chairman of the committee said, “Go ahead brother, your time is unlimited.”8 Carver’s testimony helped the committee decide to implement a tariff on imported peanuts.Yet, despite a drastically reduced classroom teaching influence he continued a close relationship with his students and those he mentored. Passing on what he learned was part of that servant’s heart. He taught his “boys,” as he called them, more than agriculture and science. It should be noted that “In many cases, it is clear that Carver's personal example did indeed change minds that had previously held to prejudiced notions of black inferiority. ‘You have shown me the one race, the human race’, one of his boys wrote. ‘Color of skin or form of hair mean nothing to me now’.”9 Believing deeply in the Golden rule, Carver felt that love would win out over racial prejudice in the end.While Carver is most famous as an agricultural scientist and inventor, especially for uses of the peanut (he did not invent peanut butter) and sweet potato, he impressed me most for his character and service to those in need. And despite conditions and experiences that could have left him bitter and resentful, he was known for his Godly character. According to author Gene Adair, “In his speeches and interviews, he almost always referred to the Bible and divine guidance. His accomplishments, he was fond of saying, were not his doing but we're the work of God.”10Born into slavery, a teacher, school administrator, scientist and science ambassador, George Washington Carver was a man that all Americans should know about because he exemplified Christ to many…I know he did to me.
1 Tuskegee University “The Legacy of George Washington Carver.” https://www.tuskegee.edu/support-tu/george-washington-carver
2George Washington Carver National Monument “Not Just The Peanut Man”. George Washington Carver National Monument (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
3Adair, Gene “George Washington Carver. pp33-34
4 Ibid, p. 41
5 Ibid, p. 59
6 Ibid, p. 85
7 Ibid, p. 54
8 Ibid, p.14
9 Ibid, p. 87
10 Ibid, p. 83
Morris, Henry "Men of Science Men of God"
Archives
Genesis Reports - December 2021
Real Scientist: Louis Pasteur
12/23/2020by Terri Kammerzell
Truth of Genesis Ministry Partner
This week, as we celebrate the birth of the Savior of the world, there’s another birthday we can remember too: Louis Pasteur, born on December 27, 1822, in Dole, France. This Fun Fact is the second of three that I have, designed to defend a common claim that can come in at least two different formats: “All real scientists believe in evolution,” or, “No real scientist believes God created the world.” You may recall the first one I featured was about Johannes Kepler.Louis Pasteur was about as real as any scientist could be, and his findings have proven invaluable.Who was Louis Pasteur?
Louis Pasteur’s experiments with bacteria provided life-saving data for the medical and food prep industries. But he was not only a great man of science: he was also a man of great faith, demonstrating that life comes from life.Here are some other fun things to know about Pasteur:
He is considered the “father of microbiology.”
His conviction of the truth of biblical Creation and the fallacy of Darwinian evolution led Pasteur to disprove the then-popular belief of spontaneous generation, an evolutionary idea which suggests that living organisms can arise from nonliving matter.
He also shares the title of “father of germ theory and bacteriology” with Robert Koch, a German physician, because of his work in determining that germs cause disease
. From this, he also developed the process of heating and rapid cooling in order to kill microbes—a process we still use today and call “pasteurization.”
One of the first scientists to understand the concept of immunization, Pasteur led the way to developing many vaccines for humans and animals, including to protect against anthrax and rabies.Indeed, Louis Pasteur is credited for having saved more lives than any other one person in history. Well, mortal lives that is.When we turn our attention back to the Savior Whose birth we celebrate this week, we can’t help but remember His contributions as well. Born in a lowly stable in Bethlehem of Judea, Jesus—the Son of God—came into our world to save the eternal lives of all who believe on Him.And even before that—about two thousand years before that—God gave us the first gift: life, the universe, and all that is in it. Indeed, while we can be grateful for the accomplishments of real scientists such as Louis Pasteur, our ultimate praise goes to the Creator Himself.“You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.” –Revelation 4:11 (NKJV)
Don’t just take my word for it! Visit YouFormedMe.com/theories/cataclysm.html to read, watch, and listen to supporting research and commentary from scientists, doctors, theologians, and more!
This blog is from a special series of “Creation Fun Facts” by Terri Kammerzell, starting from June 10, 2020. Read the introduction at TruthOfGenesis.com/blogs/building-a-biblical-defense-of-creation.
Irony, Chance, and Chaos
12/11/2020by Terri Kammerzell
Truth of Genesis Ministry Partner
I think you can agree with me that 2020 has been just about the most dumbfounding year most of us can ever remember. Even if you haven’t experienced as much personal loss or trials as you may have in other years, the restlessness and chaos in the world around us are at unprecedented levels. So many changes have been made in our world this year, and some of these changes—for better or worse—will never be undone.Another word for “change” is “evolve.” That’s why, when it comes to this week’s Fun Fact, I was careful to be precise in my wording:What is Darwinian Evolution?
The idea of Darwinian Evolution suggests that life began as a chance combination of nonliving chemicals.For some reason, this Fun Fact has been the most challenging for me to write about this year. In fact, I already postponed it once because I was struggling to find a good angle. The irony is that I have more resources for this Fun Fact than for any others on my website. In fact, perhaps that is the problem: I have too many ideas about what to communicate with you regarding it.Let’s start by breaking it down and focusing on some of the keywords.Why “Darwinian Evolution”? As I mentioned above, “evolve” in itself is not a dirty word. It simply means change. Things change. Change is one of the few absolute guarantees in this world (except when you’re staring at a vending machine). In fact, I don’t know of any creation apologists who don’t acknowledge the reality of “microevolution,” but as I mentioned when I wrote about the finches Darwin observed on the Galapagos Islands, microevolution is the result of changes (usually from mutations, adaptation, etc.) that occur within a kind (which I defined last week when I wrote about dinosaurs on Noah’s Ark). But the term “Darwinian Evolution” specifically refers to something we also call “molecules-to-man evolution,” or “macroevolution.”Why “idea”? Isn’t macroevolution a fact? After all, it is widely taught in public—and even some Christian—schools all over the world. Couldn’t it at least be referred to as a “theory”? Scientifically speaking, no. Macroevolution is not only not a fact, but it doesn’t even qualify as a theory. The scientific method starts when someone has an idea and asks a question. Then they do some basic research and formulate a statement of predictability, called a hypothesis. From there, they conduct tests and experiments, analyze data, and examine if the hypothesis could be true. It is only after repeatable, observable, testable processes that a hypothesis makes its way to the next step: a scientific theory. Even scientific theories have been later disproven because nobody can possibly do every single test in the world to make sure their hypothesis always proves true.What about the idea that all of life originated from the chance combination of nonliving chemicals? In other words, could something have come from nothing? And then, could that something which came from nothing, and has nothing to interact with develop into a more orderly and complicated something else, over and over again, until life developed?Well, let’s ask some critical questions:
Can it be repeated? Nope! No scientist has ever been able to make something out of nothing. (By the way, the Law of Mass Conservation tells us no scientist ever will be able to either.)
Has it ever been observed? Nope! Nobody was there to see this supposed non-miraculous event of nothing making something, supposedly millions or billions of years ago. And since that time, no scientist has ever been able to make it happen again (refer to question 1 above).
Can it be tested, quantitatively and/or qualitatively? Nope! (Refer to question 1 above.)Therefore, I refer to Darwinian Evolution as just an “idea” in my Fun Fact. But if you’ll indulge me a bit, there are a couple of other important aspects to this Fun Fact that I’d like to bring to your attention.First, in this one-year blog series, I am presenting to you the set of 49 Fundamental Facts I developed for a homeschool Bible class. But in my first post, and on the main page of my website, I clearly explain that these Fun Facts are “evidence-based.” Each week, I have been presenting evidence to not only debunk the idea of molecules-to-man evolution, but also to confirm the biblical account of Creation. As a reminder:On June 26, I told you about the bombardier beetle and how his little gas chambers had to be in place right from the beginning, or he would have died from improper use or incomplete combustion reactions. “And,” I mentioned, “as a pretty good rule of thumb, dead animals cannot evolve.”
On July 24, I introduced you to the concept of “irreducible complexity,” mentioning the giraffe and beetle as great examples that defy evolution “because their complex designs could not have gradually evolved to what they are.”
Similarly, on September 4, I explained why the human brain could not be “the result of random chance combinations and millions of years of evolution.”
On October 9, I described how “although the ‘backward design’ of the human eye has often led unbelievers to cite it as an example of ‘chance’ evolution, in reality, the irreducible complexity of our eyes points to a very creative and thoughtful Designer!”
And on November 6, in my “More Chaos, Not Less” post, I told you, “Evolutionists have a hard time overcoming the Second Law in their hypotheses about organisms becoming more complex over time.”Even with all these insurmountable proofs against Darwinian Evolution, there are still many who just refuse to believe in a God Who created life. And on July 31, I explained that truth somewhat with my Fun Fact of Romans 1:20, which says, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and godhead, so that they are without excuse” (NKJV). I told you then: “In the world of creation science and apologetics, this passage pops up a lot. Of course, Darwinian evolution has become so commonplace, and the ‘accepted science’ of the public schools in our country. But . . . when it comes down to it, evolution—as a scientific model—was developed to try to find a way to explain origins without a Creator, without a God to Whom each one of us is accountable.”In the study of logic, we would call this a “rescuing device.” Rescuing devices are arguments people come up with because they don’t want to reevaluate a flawed presupposition or worldview they are holding onto. This takes us into the other side of the creation apologetics camp. This is the side that takes into consideration that everyone on the planet has access to the same evidence. However, how a person interprets that evidence is all about their worldview, which is the basic network of their beliefs that they assume to be true from the beginning. It’s sort of like how the color of lenses a person may wear will cause them to see the world differently than a person with no lenses, or with a different color.And so, it is important to understand that arguing for the voracity of the Bible on the basis of evidence can only get you so far. Sometimes, you have to be able to challenge a person’s worldview and help them realize the flimsiness and inconsistencies of any worldview that does not start with God as the Maker of all. My goal is to also produce a set of “Logic Fun Facts” within the next year, but in the meantime, I highly recommend watching Dr. Jason Lisle’s “Ultimate Proof of Creation” presentation. (He starts around the 10-minute mark.)The last thing I want to mention about this Fun Fact is the inconsistencies of accepting molecules-to-man evolution but also holding to many socially ethical campaigns. For example, yesterday (December 10) happened to be “Human Rights Day.” Established by the United Nations, the annual observation is geared to bring awareness of the “rights” to which some humans around the world are deprived. This same international organization also promotes Darwin’s evolutionary ideas. How ironic is that? If Darwinian Evolution is true, then human beings are merely the result of chance combinations of nonliving chemicals. And, in that case, why should they have any rights at all, when there was nobody to give them those rights in the first place?This reminds me of a conversation I had with one of my students five years ago: He came into Bible class one week and sincerely asked me, "Miss K, what if evolution really WERE true?" I stopped and thought about it logically and said (something to the effect of), "Well, then we wouldn't be more than animals. And if that were true, there would be no need for an eternal focus, and really we would have no real purpose in this life. Nobody would have a God-shaped vacuum, so there would be no need for anyone to believe in God, and the idea of creationism would never have had a need or purpose. If evolution were true, I think it would be the only story given for our existence. I would think there wouldn't even be any Christians."Or, as I later read from C.S. Lewis: "Atheism turns out to be too simple. If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have found out that it has no meaning..."I don’t know about you, but to me the irony of people celebrating rights given by nobody to humans—the result of random chance processes—just adds to the chaos level in the world this year. And, ultimately, I don’t think that’s merely by chance. The shorter Satan's time gets, the more desperate he is to distract, deceive, and destroy as many people as possible. After all, he is the master of the rescuing device.
Don’t just take my word for it! Visit YouFormedMe.com/theories/cataclysm.html to read, watch, and listen to supporting research and commentary from scientists, doctors, theologians, and more!
This blog is from a special series of “Creation Fun Facts” by Terri Kammerzell, starting from June 10, 2020. Read the introduction at TruthOfGenesis.com/blogs/building-a-biblical-defense-of-creation.
Irony, Chance, and Chaos
12/11/2020by Terri Kammerzell
Truth of Genesis Ministry Partner
Tomorrow (December 5) is “Bathtub Party Day.” Although you might likely have never heard of this one before, it actually has more of a following than some of the other novelty “holidays” I’ve written about this year. In fact, a simple Internet or social media search will bring up quite a number of results, including opportunities to save at dog spas, past celebrations that range from puppy-cute to adult-questionable (please use a safe search filter!), and even some Sesame Street throw-back scenes with Ernie and his rubber ducky. You’ll also find ideas to celebrate on your own, generally around the principle of lingering in a relaxing tub rather than taking a shower.My favorite “bathtub party” images have always been those that represent happy animals on a boat, depicting a twist on the Noah’s Ark account of Genesis 6-9. However, these images are absolutely just that—fanciful twists on a very real and not-so-happy historical event. Often the scenes are also missing dinosaurs, reflecting a further misunderstanding of the truth of the Bible’s account of events. So, the question is . . .Could dinosaurs really have been on the ark?
Yes. Because dinosaurs are really reptiles, they started out small and many continued growing their whole lives. God could have brought young dinosaurs to the ark, two of each kind, who would have survived the Flood with Noah and his family.This might bring up some more questions, so let’s do a little review:When were dinosaurs created?
Dinosaurs are land animals, so we have no reasons to believe that they were created at any other time than on Day 6 of Creation Week.What is a “kind”?
In the first chapter of Genesis, we see the phrase “after his/their kind” used ten times. We see this phrase repeated three more times in Genesis 6:20 when God is instructing Noah about the ark. Both in the Creation account and in the Flood account, some skeptics challenge that there were too many animals either for Adam to name in one day, or for Noah to carry on the ark. However, in terms of biological classifications, “kind” is the equivalent of either genus or family, not species. So, not only did Adam really only have to name about 2,500 animals (which was doable even in as little as four hours),Noah only had to accommodate a few thousand animals, which also was easily doable with the large dimensions described in Genesis 6. In fact, if you’ve never been to the Answers in Genesis Ark Encounter in Kentucky, it is worth a visit! You can see firsthand just the magnitude of the ship, and also how the animals—including dinosaurs—could have been compartmentalized and stowed for the journey. In fact, most dinosaur eggs were no bigger than a standard football, and God could easily have brought younger animals on board, not full-grown versions.Was it a happy journey?
This is the real problem with the happy “bathtub party” style of the children’s pictures often portrayed in Noah’s Ark drawings. Not only are the animals completely out of proportion to the size of the boat, but they seem like they are on a pleasure trip across a calm sea with sunny weather. My friend, cartoonist Dan Lietha, points out in his presentation, "Stop Mything the Boat", the dangers of portraying Noah’s Ark in such a fashion. In reality, a straightforward reading of Genesis 6-9 describes quite vividly the horrific storm and its purpose, which was to wipe the earth clean of sin. Many, many human beings and animals lost their lives as a result of God’s judgment of the sin and depravity that had infested the earth.If dinosaurs were aboard the ark, where are they now?
After the Flood, the earth’s environment had completely changed. Some dinosaurs may have eventually died out due to lack of proper nutrition. Others may have been hunted for food or sport. Still, others may have posed a threat (real or perceived) to growing human communities whose bravest warriors fought and killed the beasts in order to preserve their families and legacies. We read stories about dragon legends from many cultures, and these were likely referencing real dinosaurs.Indeed, we can be certain that our God is not in the business of deceiving us. We can read His Word and take as true that He created all the animals during Creation week, that he brought two of each kind to Noah’s Ark, and that only the occupants of that vessel survived the Great Flood. Whether you celebrate in your tub tomorrow or not, you can give praise to the One Who made you, the dinosaurs, and all the other kinds of animals.
Don’t just take my word for it! Visit YouFormedMe.com/theories/cataclysm.html to read, watch, and listen to supporting research and commentary from scientists, doctors, theologians, and more!
This blog is from a special series of “Creation Fun Facts” by Terri Kammerzell, starting from June 10, 2020. Read the introduction at TruthOfGenesis.com/blogs/building-a-biblical-defense-of-creation.
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Genesis Reports - November 2021
The Feathered Drummer Boy
11/24/2020by Terri Kammerzell
Truth of Genesis Ministry Partner
I chose this special Thanksgiving-Eve edition of my weekly blog based on the fact that it is also the 80th anniversary of the first appearance of the “Woody Woodpecker” cartoon character. Designed by Alex Lovy and voiced by Mel Blanc, Woody was a side character, pestering a father-son panda duo in the cartoon titled Knock Knock.Over the years, this little cartoon character evolved into a well-known star of his own right, with new voice talent and even his own theme song and catch phrases. “Evolve” in this case means that he changed and adapted over time—with help—to match his surroundings and audience base. Nobody would ever try to suggest that he spontaneously came to be without the thoughtfulness of a creative designer.But what about real woodpeckers? Is there any evidence to suggest they had a creative Designer as well?What is one amazing feature of the woodpecker?
Woodpeckers have long sticky tongues to pull bugs out of trees.Although I have multiple resources to learn more about the woodpecker on my website, my hands-down favorite is to listen to Dr. Jobe Martin from Biblical Discipleship Ministries talk about the woodpecker in volume 1 of his series Incredible Creatures that Defy Evolution. You can purchase that DVD here, or even watch it on Prime Video.Here are some additional amazing features to know about woodpeckers:
Compared to other birds, their beaks are stronger; their tail feathers are tougher and more resilient; and their feet are designed differently, with two toes in front and two toes in back so they can climb vertical tree trunks with their bodies in any direction.
Between its skull and beak, a woodpecker has special shock-absorbing cartilage which keeps its brain from exploding with the forceful impact of each rat-a-tap-tapping peck.
Woodpeckers’ brains are so incredible that brain surgeons study them to better learn how to repair and protect human brains, especially from concussion.
Some woodpeckers have such a long tongue that it wraps around the back of their skull and over the top of their head! A woodpecker’s tongue can be up to 1/3 of the length of its body. If your tongue followed that proportion, it would be about 1.5-2 feet long!
Woodpeckers have barbs on the tips of their tongues to stab bug larvae. But just in case that’s not good enough, they also have built-in glue-making factories that make their tongues so sticky that the bugs stick to them. Before they swallow, their built-in solvent factories go to work to dissolve the glue so they don’t swallow their tongues!
Between each and every peck, the woodpecker opens his eyes, aims, and closes his eyes again. The force of each peck is so intense that if he didn’t keep his eyes closed, they would pop out of his head.Wow!! These are just some of the amazing features of yet another animal whose irreducible complexity shouts the truth of a creative Designer. Makes me think of Romans 1:20, where God reminds us that “His invisible attributes are . . . understood by the things that are made” (NKJV). And while there are many more examples besides this little drumming wonder, as far as what I have to share this week: that’s all, folks!
Don’t just take my word for it! Visit YouFormedMe.com/theories/cataclysm.html to read, watch, and listen to supporting research and commentary from scientists, doctors, theologians, and more!
This blog is from a special series of “Creation Fun Facts” by Terri Kammerzell, starting from June 10, 2020. Read the introduction at TruthOfGenesis.com/blogs/building-a-biblical-defense-of-creation.
Real Scientist: Johannes Kepler
11/12/2020by Terri Kammerzell
Truth of Genesis Ministry Partner
I have three Fun Facts designed to defend a common claim that can come in at least two different formats: “All real scientists believe in evolution,” or, “No real scientist believes God created the world.”Well, this Sunday marks the 390th anniversary of the death of Johannes Kepler, so I thought it was a good time to introduce you to the first of these three.Who was Johannes Kepler?
Best known for discovering the three mathematical laws of planetary motion, Johannes Kepler was a devout biblical Creation scientist with a deep love for Jesus Christ.Johannes Kepler didn’t just tinker with his microscope in his garage. He left a pretty impressive legacy of scientific accomplishments:
He was the founder of physical astronomy, revolutionizing scientific thought by applying physics to astronomy. Previously, physics had been considered a branch of philosophy, and astronomy had been considered a branch of math.
He developed the first tables for tracking the movement of stars.
He not only defended and promoted the theory of heliocentrism (that the sun is the center of our universe), but he helped people understand how that theory aligned with the Bible.
He discovered the three mathematical laws of planetary motion which established the discipline of celestial mechanics. In fact, he proved the planets orbit in ellipses, not circles, around the sun. We call these “Kepler’s Laws.”
He also discovered a supernova, improved the process of calendar-making, improved the telescope, and located many stars and planets.
So, what do you think? Was Johannes Kepler a “real scientist”? And yet, one of the best quotes we have from Kepler was how he defined science: “thinking God’s thoughts after Him.” With his biblical worldview, he knew that the universe must have been created in a logical way, obeying organized patterns that came from an intelligent Designer. That is how he was able to make so many discoveries which have enabled scientists who have come after him to continue making even more discoveries (whether they give the credit to a Designer or not).Incidentally, there are a lot of modern-day real scientists who believe God created the world too. In fact, this year my friends from the Creation Fellowship Santee have had the privilege of hosting several, including a couple of my favorites: Bill Morgan, Steve Austin, Jay Wile, Jason Lisle, and Gary Bates.
Don’t just take my word for it! Visit YouFormedMe.com/theories/cataclysm.html to read, watch, and listen to supporting research and commentary from scientists, doctors, theologians, and more!
This blog is from a special series of “Creation Fun Facts” by Terri Kammerzell, starting from June 10, 2020. Read the introduction at TruthOfGenesis.com/blogs/building-a-biblical-defense-of-creation.
More Chaos, Not Less
11/6/2020by Terri Kammerzell
Truth of Genesis Ministry Partner
This coming Monday (November 9) happens to be “Chaos Never Dies Day.” I know—who thinks of these things, right? But somebody did. And on the website TimeAndDate.com, you can find some ways to “celebrate” and also the thinking behind the annual reminder: “Feel like your life sometimes spirals into a chaotic mess? . . . This made-up holiday encourages people to realize that chaos is part of life and that it will never die.”Believe it or not, when I made my blog plans for the year, I did not realize how close this “holiday” was to this historic U.S. Presidential election. I also didn’t know that the “fourteen days to flatten the curve” would turn into almost eight months (and counting) of restrictions, regulations, and the chaotic control it has become. I also really didn’t know that my pastor would be in the middle of a sermon series called Living with Confidence in a Chaotic World. Nevertheless, chaos is the theme all over right now.What I did know is that I wanted to use the opportunity of “Chaos Never Dies Day” to introduce you to my Fun Fact about the Second Law of Thermodynamics:What does the Second Law of Thermodynamics state?
The Second Law of Thermodynamics, also known as the law of entropy, says that the total entropy of the universe can never decrease. This law confirms the universe had a beginning.Several months ago, I introduced you to the word “entropy.” Entropy is a measure of disorder. When something is orderly (or “very good”) and it becomes disorderly, the amount of change in order can sometimes be measured by its entropy. In that blog post, I was specifically relating it to “genetic entropy,” also known as “gene depletion,” because we do see this kind of tendency toward disorder when it comes to our DNA, whether from generation to generation or within a person’s life.But more commonly, we associate entropy with the Second Law of Thermodynamics. In this case, we talk about the amount of usable energy that is available. This is something I teach my chemistry students about, and it helps us understand what chemical reactions could or could not happen, based on the amount of energy they release or absorb from their surroundings. What is interesting is that when you study science and read more about the technicalities of the Second Law of Thermodynamics, there are some specific aspects to it that some scientists disagree on.For example, some Creation scientists disagree about whether the Second Law was in place before Adam sinned or if it was put into place as part of the Curse. Some scientists are quick to point out that the Second Law is not the same thing as genetic entropy or necessarily the same thing as a general tendency toward disorder—or chaos. Evolutionists have a hard time overcoming the Second Law in their hypotheses about organisms becoming more complex over time, but creationists sometimes put too much emphasis on the Second Law as a definitive answer to disprove evolution. The law itself can be somewhat complicated to understand. Although I have several articles on my website regarding the Second Law of Thermodynamics, the one I would most encourage you to read if you would like to know more specifically about it would be this one by Dr. Jason Lisle.For my blog post here, I want to draw your attention to the part of my Fun Fact that says, “This law confirms the universe had a beginning.” From the standpoint of the Second Law confirming the beginning of the universe, this truth doesn’t necessarily eliminate many evolutionary theories, as even many of them do acknowledge a beginning. However, one of the interesting points Dr. Lisle offers in his article mentioned above is that since the universe had a beginning, it also had to have a cause.So, to me, this Fun Fact has two great take-aways:
There are actually four Laws of Thermodynamics. These “laws” are among the many rules of math and science that govern our universe. They are unwavering truths that allow scientists to consistently develop theories and make discoveries. If there is a law, there must be a lawgiver. Someone established consistency and order when creating the universe as we know it. Randomness and chance don’t make laws.
As Dr. Lisle points out, if the universe had a beginning, then it must have had a cause. Only the biblical worldview gives a clear, consistent, reliable answer for Who that cause was.
Remember, these “Fun Facts” I am introducing you to are actually “Fundamental Facts” that you can easily memorize. They are tidbits to help you answer the call of 1 Peter 3:15, always being ready “to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (NIV). It is great if I can pique your interest and help guide you to study more information and truth about the topics in the facts themselves. My primary goal is to get you thinking and to provide cues to help you remember more solid truths.But at the end of the day, I always want to emphasize to you the hope that we have in our living God. Even in the midst of uncertainty and ever-growing chaos, we know nothing comes as a surprise to Him, and He has the end all planned out. Do you know this God? If not, today would be a great day to get to know Him!
Don’t just take my word for it! Visit YouFormedMe.com/theories/cataclysm.html to read, watch, and listen to supporting research and commentary from scientists, doctors, theologians, and more!
This blog is from a special series of “Creation Fun Facts” by Terri Kammerzell, starting from June 10, 2020. Read the introduction at TruthOfGenesis.com/blogs/building-a-biblical-defense-of-creation.
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Genesis Reports - October 2021
Monsters under the Bed? Hope Not!
10/30/2020by Terri Kammerzell
Truth of Genesis Ministry Partner
Today, the last Friday of October, happens to be “National Frankenstein Day.” The day is to recognize Mary Shelley and her novel in which scientist Victor Frankenstein created a monster. And while you can celebrate the day by reading the book, drawing your own picture, conducting an experiment with electricity, or baking cookies or other treats in the shape of a monster, I’ve chosen to celebrate by introducing you to my Fun Fact about the “hopeful monster” theory:What is the “hopeful monster” theory?
The “hopeful monster” theory is an evolutionary theory which states that occasionally an animal births a totally new creature.You may recall that last week I told you an observed truth of genetics: apes make apes, people make people, and finches make finches. But what if that wasn’t always true? What if your beautiful little collie had a litter of pups, and one of them—instead of a collie—was randomly a banacrowtula? Or how about an eleraffepple? You probably hope that doesn’t happen because it might give you quite a startle!Some evolutionists, however, hope such an occurrence does happen. For a long time, evolutionary scientists have been looking for answers to try to explain away the need for a Creator God to have made all the animal kinds we see today. That there is no observable evidence for Darwinian evolution doesn’t stop them from hoping there could be.Part of the problem (for evolutionists) is that as they examine the fossil record, animals appear suddenly, all at once. There is no sign of animals transitioning from one kind to another. When apes appear in the fossil record, they are apes. When finches appear in the fossil record, they are finches. And so on, and so forth.Rather than acknowledging Darwinian evolution might be false, and especially rather than acknowledging there might be a Creator God to Whom we are accountable, one of the ideas these scientists have come up with is that occasionally one animal birthed a totally new creature. Otto Schindewolf, a German paleontologist, was credited with this idea in the 1930s. Basically, he suggested that instead of slow progressions of evolutionary development, transformations happened in large single leaps between species.UC Berkeley geneticist Richard Goldschmidt took hold of Schindwolf’s theory, calling the new animals “embryological monsters,” and thus named the idea the “hopeful monster theory.” Despite the fact that there has been no evidence to support this idea, and that the theory should have died with its originator, shortly after Schindewolf’s death in the early 1970s, two other scientists—Stephen Jay Gould and Niles Eldredge—revived the idea and repackaged the theory. They called it “punctuated equilibrium.” And although there still remains no evidence for it, because it answers Darwinian evolution’s problem of missing transitional fossils, it has been widely accepted and is often taught as fact in public schools and secular museums.You may recall that Romans 1:20 tells us that everyone—in their heart of hearts—knows there is a God. But verse 21 goes on to say, “Although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened” (NKJV). These scientists keep hoping to find evidence to dismiss what they know: there is a God Who created them and will hold them accountable.Let me reassure you: You have no reason at all to believe your little doggie is going to give birth to a new creature any more than you have reason to believe that Frankenstein’s or anyone else’s monster is under your bed. However, if you have placed your faith in the living God of the Bible, you can rest your head each night knowing your hope is in the Creator of the universe, Who will someday redeem you to Himself. Your eternal future is secure with Him.If you have not placed your faith in Him, National Frankenstein Day is just as good a day as any other to visit this website and learn how to start your life with the Author of hope.
Don’t just take my word for it! Visit YouFormedMe.com/theories/cataclysm.html to read, watch, and listen to supporting research and commentary from scientists, doctors, theologians, and more!
This blog is from a special series of “Creation Fun Facts” by Terri Kammerzell, starting from June 10, 2020. Read the introduction at TruthOfGenesis.com/blogs/building-a-biblical-defense-of-creation.
It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! No, It’s Still a Bird.
10/23/2020by Terri Kammerzell
Truth of Genesis Ministry Partner
Yesterday (October 22) was “Galapagos Day.” The Galapagos Conservation Trust uses this day each year to raise awareness about the marine species that live at the archipelago and the threats they face. The Galapagos Islands, about 600 miles west of Ecuador in the Pacific Ocean, are well known because that is where Charles Darwin realized and began to develop his “theory” of evolution, while observing finches.During his five weeks on the island, Darwin noticed that the finches had variations in their beaks, tails, body types, and feathers. In particular, he observed that the variations in the finches’ beaks gave some of the birds specific abilities others didn’t have, which would allow them to adapt better and survive longer than other variations. From these observations, Darwin went on to extrapolate that the same principles could be applied to other animal kinds evolving into whole new animal kinds. This is known as “Darwinian Evolution.” We will discuss Darwin and his idea of evolution more in upcoming weeks.But this week let’s focus on this particularly important question:Did the finches Darwin observed on the Galapagos prove evolution?
In reality, the Galapagos finches have shown their God-given abilities to adapt and survive tough times, while keeping within their created kind.This year I’ve had the privilege of joining with my friends from the Creation Fellowship Santee in virtual weekly fellowships. We’ve had a number of great speakers—authors, Creation scientists, Christian apologists, pastors, and more—come share with us from week to week. One of our first speakers was Bill Morgan, who leads his own Creation fellowship in Garden Grove, CA, and also does an extensive amount of street witnessing. One of the things he taught us that evening was how to give an answer for our belief in God the Designer. When questioned about evolution, he encouraged us to respond with, “Apes make apes, people make people, and crows make crows.” This isn’t religious; this is genetics. Genetics is the field of science that focuses on organisms’ genes, which are made up of DNA or RNA.Good scientific theories are those that are testable, repeatable, and observable. The truth of it is that the only thing Charles Darwin observed on the Galapagos Islands were finches making finches. Did their beaks vary? Yes, but they were still finches.In the first chapter of Genesis, we see the phrase “after his/their kind” used ten times. It is important to understand what “kind” is. In terms of biological classifications, “kind” is the equivalent of either genus or family, not species.
Since that time, the only conclusive scientific observations that have ever been made have been that animals reproduce after their kind. Apes do not become people any more than they become crows. Dogs do not become cats. Whales do not become dogs.However, we do see extensive variations within kinds. Variations are the result of certain genes—sometimes favorable and sometimes hazardous—being passed on from generation to generation within a kind.For example, most scientists—evolutionists and creationists alike—believe that all the dog species we see today shared a common ancestor that was much like a wolf. However, over time, sometimes as the result of intentional breeding and sometimes as the result of adaption, some genes have been handed down from generation to generation that have changed the way dogs look, and have offered a variety of different species, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. It is important to understand that in every generation of dogs, dogs still make dogs. And even more importantly, never is any new information added to their DNA, or genetic code.I’m going to leave this talk right there because in just a few weeks, we’ll pick up where we left off when we talk more about Darwin’s idea of evolution. For now, whenever you see a bird flying by you, just remember that it is one of its kind.
Don’t just take my word for it! Visit YouFormedMe.com/theories/cataclysm.html to read, watch, and listen to supporting research and commentary from scientists, doctors, theologians, and more!
This blog is from a special series of “Creation Fun Facts” by Terri Kammerzell, starting from June 10, 2020. Read the introduction at TruthOfGenesis.com/blogs/building-a-biblical-defense-of-creation.
What Is Your Vision?
10/9/2020by Terri Kammerzell
Truth of Genesis Ministry Partner
Yesterday (October 8) was “World Sight Day,” a day set aside all over the world to promote eye health and to raise awareness for the struggles brought on by blindness and other visual impairments. It seems clear, then, that I should focus this week’s blog post on my Fun Fact about the human eye:What makes the human eye unique?
The human eye is situated backwards so we don’t always have to look through a pool of blood.I know there are a few ways I could go here, and you would probably see any of them coming: I could devote the next few paragraphs to the high importance of seeing the world clearly through the lens of the Bible. I could write to you about the ironies of 20/20 being hindsight, yet the year 2020 has taught us invaluable lessons on foresight. Or I could clarify the importance of a backward eye and highlight some of the other fascinating design features of our eyes. My choice: number three!Why, exactly, are our eyes backwards? Technically, it isn’t the eyes themselves that are backwards, but the wiring. When you look at your eyes in a mirror, you see the beautiful “storefronts” that God has created, with the lenses, pupils, irises, and corneas. But behind those, there are photoreceptors that face the retinas, which are thin layers of tissue that line the backs of the eyes. When light hits the retinas, it activates photocells. These highly active photocells require nutrients found in the blood, so pools of blood are stored between the lenses and the photoreceptors, with the photoreceptors facing the back wall of the eyes. If the photoreceptors faced forward, or if the pools of blood were between the photoreceptors and retinas, our vision would always be tainted by those pools of blood.But did you also know?
Our eyes are extensions of our brains, and their job is to send signals to our brains. Our brains store the signals and then piece them together like a puzzle to make sense of them. Even when our eyes are closed, our brains are still active, making pictures from the signals our eyes have previously processed.
In some ways, our eyes function like camera lenses, but much more efficiently. They autofocus, changing shape as needed; they sharpen images along their edges; they adjust automatically for brightness or darkness; and they are self-cleaning, self-lubricating, and self-repairing.
An examination of our eyes can signal eye doctors when more serious health risks are present, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and even an impending heart attack.
Not only were our eyes built “automatically” in the womb, but every animal has something special about the eyes God gave it. For example, owls have more rods and cones to help them see better at night. Flies have compound eyes which help them “sense” things from a wider circumference. And beavers have two sets of eyelids, which we will discuss more in the spring.
Indeed, although the “backward design” of the human eye has often led unbelievers to cite it as an example of “chance” evolution, in reality, the irreducible complexity of our eyes point to a very creative and thoughtful Designer! Take good care of your eyes and remember: your brain stores the images it receives from your eyes. Be sure those images bring glory to God!Matthew 6:22 (ESV) “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light...
Don’t just take my word for it! Visit YouFormedMe.com/theories/cataclysm.html to read, watch, and listen to supporting research and commentary from scientists, doctors, theologians, and more!
This blog is from a special series of “Creation Fun Facts” by Terri Kammerzell, starting from June 10, 2020. Read the introduction at TruthOfGenesis.com/blogs/building-a-biblical-defense-of-creation.
A Lesson on Percent. And Breathing.
10/2/2020by Terri Kammerzell
Truth of Genesis Ministry Partner
With the U.S. Presidential election quickly drawing to a murky close, now is a time we see a lot of headlines with numbers followed by a percent sign (%). So I thought this would be a good week to share a different percent with you.What percentage of oxygen is necessary for human life?
Earth’s atmosphere must always contain 21% oxygen to maintain life.While it might seem that some candidates use up a larger percentage of “hot air” than most people, the truth is that our unique planet was very carefully, intentionally, and thoughtfully designed with just the right balance of gases in our atmosphere. This may lead you to ask some other questions:
Is it exactly 21%? No, it’s actually about 20.8%, but generally needs to stay in a range of 19.5-22% in order for humans and animals to have the right intake of oxygen.
What makes up the other 79%? About 78% of it is nitrogen, and the other approximately 1% is a combination of other gases such as argon, carbon dioxide, ozone, sulfur oxides, and nitrogen oxides.
Do any other planets have 21% oxygen in their atmospheres? No. No other planets in our galaxy or any planets scientists have observed in other nearby galaxies have been found to have the right amount of oxygen to support human life. More specifically, within our own galaxy:
Mercury has almost no atmosphere (no gases immediately surrounding the planet).
Although similar to Earth in size and composition, Venus has an atmosphere so dense it is more than ninety times the mass of Earth’s atmosphere, and it is composed primarily of carbon dioxide.
In some ways, Mars is also like Earth: its rotational period and axial tilt resemble that of Earth. However, its atmosphere is very thin and, like Venus, mostly made up of carbon dioxide.
Jupiter itself is made up of gases, so it cannot support human life. Its atmosphere is mostly a combination of hydrogen and helium gases.
Like Jupiter, Saturn is also a “gas giant,” and its atmosphere is also comprised of hydrogen, helium, and trace compounds such as ammonia and methane, which give the planet its interesting colors.
Like the other gas giants, Uranus has an atmosphere composed primarily of hydrogen and helium, but it gets its blueish color from methane, which it has more of.
Finally, Neptune is an “ice giant,” and like Uranus has an atmosphere of hydrogen, helium, and methane.All these beautiful planets, yet not one of them has the right percentage of oxygen to sustain human (or animal) life. Earth is the only one. This is another great example of (1) why it is unlikely we would ever find human life on another planet and (2) God’s hand in the unique and irreducible complexity of not just our bodies but the environment for which we are suited.In a world with a 100% chance of sin, conflict, or strife, I hope this reminder of your unique living space has brought at least 10% of the blessings to get you through your day. Fortunately, our Creator is a good and loving God whose mercies are 100% new every morning. You can count on them, along with your 21% of oxygen.Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord! Psalm 150:6 (ESV)
Don’t just take my word for it! Visit YouFormedMe.com/theories/cataclysm.html to read, watch, and listen to supporting research and commentary from scientists, doctors, theologians, and more!
This blog is from a special series of “Creation Fun Facts” by Terri Kammerzell, starting from June 10, 2020. Read the introduction at TruthOfGenesis.com/blogs/building-a-biblical-defense-of-creation.
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Expert Interviews - May 2020
Best historical evidence of Dinosaurs and Man living together.
5/20/2020
Dino Dave Woetzel
Speaker, Explorer, Cryptozoologist and author of the book "Chronicles of Dinosauria"
Biblical Worldview & Science
5/1/2020
Dr. Charles JacksonLiberty University & Genesis: Paradise Lost
Editor-Dave PowellWe hope that you learn something new from our experts.
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Expert Interviews - February 2020
Coronaviruses in Creation
2/27/2020
Dr. Robert Carter and Gary Bates
both of Creation Ministries International
National Pathogen Library
For more information or to read the article: https://creation.com/wuhan-coronavirus
Dr. Georgia Purdom at the Creation Museum - Creation vs. Evolution
9/7/2020
Editor-Dave PowellWe hope that you learn something new from our experts.
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Expert Interviews - July 2019
Fossils at the St. Louis Science Center
7/17/2019
Editor-Dave PowellWe hope that you learn something new from our experts.
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Expert Interviews - February 2019
Does Earth's Destruction Prove it's Creation?
2/13/2019
Steve Ham talks to Truth of Genesis about the balanced view of biblical creation with end times below.
Editor-Dave PowellWe hope that you learn something new from our experts.
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Expert Interviews - January 2019
Creation Science & Genesis' history in the Bible point to Jesus
1/10/2019
Steve Ham talks to Truth of Genesis about creation ministries below.
Editor-Dave PowellWe hope that you learn something new from our experts.
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Expert Interviews - October 2018
Evolution and the Church
10/3/2018
Rick talks about evolution's rise to prominence and it's effects in the video below
Editor-Dave PowellWe hope that you learn something new from our experts.
Archives
Expert Interviews - August 2018
The Flat Earth Myth
8/29/2018
Part 2 of our discussion of the Flat Earth concept - Pat Roy talks about his meeting with Dr. Danny Faulkner below.
Dave Powell talks to Pat Roy of Creation Quest and the Creation Guys
This video below is an introduction to a documentary by Awesome Science Media about the mistaken Flat Earth belief that has corrupted some in the church today.
Editor-Dave PowellWe hope that you learn something new from our experts.
Archives
Expert Interviews - July 2018
Do Faith & Science Contradict?
7/14/2018
Click Below and watch Pat Roy of Creation Quest as he talks about the relationship between Faith and Science.
Rick McGough of Local Church Apologetics. Click below to hear Rick's thoughts on Faith and Science
Teaching Videos - Dinosaurs
Dinosaurs, Dragons & the Bible-Leviathan
4/1/2020
by Dave Powell
The focus of this Dinosaurs, Dragons and the Bible episode is the mysterious creature Leviathan. In this video, we explore the Biblical descriptions of Leviathan. He is portrayed as a creature you don't want to approach and one against whom the weapons of the day were useless. We take you through a thorough analysis of why many of the modern-day creatures just don't fit the descriptions found in Job. Especially entertaining are the movie clips that help make this presentation one you don't want to miss.
Dinosaurs, Dragons & the Bible-Behemoth
3/10/2020
by Dave Powell
In this episode of Dinosaurs, Dragons and the Bible, Truth of Genesis' Dave Powell discusses the mighty Behemoth. This fantastic creature is the focus of Job Chapter 40. Behemoth is strong evidence that man and dinosaurs (or dragons) lived together at the same time.
Dinosaurs, Dragons & the Bible - An Introduction
2/5/2020
by Dave Powell
Dave brings to light where the word "dinosaur" came from and what the Bible calls these creatures instead. He talks about what a "dinosaur" really is and isn't. Discover what the Hebrew words "tannin" or tannim" mean and how their used in the Bible to represent creatures you might think lived millions of years ago but instead lived at the same time as man as suggested in the Bible.
Creation Animation
Dinosaurs, Dragons & the Bible - An Introduction
4/24/2019
Truth of Genesis
World in Need - Truth of Genesis
Mission Statement & About Ministry
Mission
With Glory to God, Truth of Genesis exists to see Christendom united in the foundation of Scripture, Genesis, through education, evangelism and discipleship.Values and beliefs
We believe in Jesus Christ as Sovereign, Creator, Sustainer and Redeemer.
We believe the Godhead is triune: one God, three Persons-God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
We believe the Bible is divinely inspired and inerrant. It is the supreme authority for faith and conduct and in all it teaches or touches on including history and science.
We believe scripture provides the lens through which we should view our daily lives and purposes for being. A specific focus would be the dominion mandate which shows man to be the pinnacle of God’s creation and the steward of our world.
We believe that scripture should interpret scripture and no work or philosophy of man can supersede its divine message.
We believe that Genesis 1-11 are critical passages to view as real history that explain the foundation of our world. The great Flood of Genesis, included as a historical event, helps explain the world we live in. It was global in its reach, and it killed every person not on board the Ark.
We also believe that it is critical to teach, preach and provide resources to support our belief in Genesis 1-11, so that especially children, but also adults, can have answers to their questions. These questions include our origin, impossibility of evolution, and other aspects of science which the secular culture has grossly misinterpreted due to their lack of biblical lenses.Vision
We want to see Christian churches, schools, home-school groups, seminaries and universities united in recognizing the accuracy, validity and inerrancy of the Bible.
We want to see Christendom acknowledge God as the divine creator of a fully formed universe with the created living kinds.
We want to see Christendom acknowledge that all compromise theories have no basis in scripture. This includes the Gap theory, day-age idea (“progressive creation”), Framework Hypothesis or theistic evolution.
We want it to be common knowledge that millions of years in the past is fantasy and not our real history.
We want to see Christendom come to know that astronomical, biological and geological evolution is Biblically and Scientifically a deception.About Us
Almost ten years ago Dave was sitting in a service at his local church when a visiting speaker opened up a crisis moment of faith; a conflict between the Bible’s apparent teaching of a young earth and secular sciences’ concept of millions of years of earth history. Passionate to resolve the conflict, he found Answers in Genesis while doing a search on the internet. He found that science and the Bible could work together in harmony when viewing science through the biblical lens. A desire to learn more was birthed in him. A first step led him to complete nineteen higher education courses to become a licensed minister.In April 2018 he received a Masters of Arts Degree in Biblical Creation Apologetics made available through an academic partnership between Masters International University of Divinity and the Institute for Creation Research School of Biblical Apologetics.Dave’s call is to reaffirm the validity and truth of the scriptures from the very first verse.He has a Masters of Communications from Arizona State University. He currently serves as an elder in his local church, and formerly served as a volunteer Director of Christian Education. Dave, and his wife, Laura, live in Springfield Illinois with their son, Joshua, and dog, Bentley.We appreciate being a part of the World In Need outreach.
Contact Us Here
Help us provide the love of Christ as well as
good science and biblical worldview
material to overseas missions, christian schools,
pastors, teachers and students.Your online donations are tax deductible
and we have no administrative costs.
All donations go directly to the mission
of fixing the foundation both here and
abroad.
Why does Truth of Genesis need your support?
Partner with us to help set free the hearts and minds of both Christians and non-Christians to Biblical truth. Our primary goal is to provide world-class biblically based creation materials to students, teachers, pastors and even Christian universities. We begin by affirming the Bible at the very first verse and don’t stop there. Our desire is to produce authentic believers who can defend their faith and reclaim territory lost to the enemy of our souls. We need to rebuild the foundation of Christianity which includes giving materials free of charge to key Christian leaders. For instance we have given material to the leader of one of the nation’s largest denominations as well as a seminary president. But our heart is for the next generation and our reach will only be limited by what God provides. Please consider being a monthly partner. Anything you do will be greatly appreciated. Thank you and God bless!
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Product Videos
What You Aren't Being Told About Astronomy Vol.1 Our Created Solar System Clip
What You Aren't Being Told About Astronomy Vol.2 Our Created Stars And Galaxies Clip
The Rocks Cry Out Curriculum
Science Testifies to Creation
Lesson One Clip
The Rocks Cry Out Curriculum
The Red Record-Native American Indians
and their Noah's Ark Account
Lesson Two Clip
The Rocks Cry Out Curriculum
Design Testifies to Creation
Lesson Three Clip
The Rocks Cry Out Curriculum
Noah's Flood and Geology
Lesson Four Clip
Truth in Science Curriculum
Philosophy
Truth is Science Curriculum
Teacher Demonstration