Creation Devotional March 16 - Paleontology
Daily Devotional – March 16
Paleontology
In Peru, there is a 370 acre deposit containing at least 346 wonderfully preserved fossil whales. A whale graveyard! These bones are buried in a sedimentary rock called diatomite. Diatomite is made from theremains of diatoms - or single-celled algae. Today when diatoms die, their microscopic glass-like skeletons accumulate on the ocean bottom. It takes about 400 million skeletons to make one gram of diatomite. An inch of diatom skeletons on the ocean bottom would currently take about 1,000 years to accumulate. These whales are buried in 260 feet of fossilized diatoms.
That means--if the evolutionary timeframe of the earth is correct--it would have taken millions of years for these whales to be covered. If it took millions of years to cover these bones, there is no possibility that they would exist! Scavengers and bacteria would have decayed these whale bones long before they could have been covered, yet we find them well-preserved and intact - with no evidence of decay. Along with these 346 whale fossils, fossils of porpoises, turtles, seals, ground sloths, and penguins are also found. For these dead creatures to avoid decay, they had to have been buried rapidly, deeply, and catastrophically. The biblical model of a recent catastrophic Flood of Noah’s day would fit such evidence far better than the millions of years of slow sediment accumulation. This whale graveyard shouts that the Flood of Noah’s day was a real event!
And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
~ Genesis 6:13
Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett
References for this devotional.
Creation Devotional March 15 - Cosmology
Daily Devotional – March 15
Cosmology
One of the greatest mysteries of science is the exact structure of creation. What keeps electrons moving? What is light? What is space? What is a charged particle? Why is there so much energy contained within empty space at absolute zero (zero point energy)? Why are galaxies commonly found in a spiral shape? Why are red shifts in distinct bands (quantitized) rather than a continuous smear of shifted values? Why does the speed of light, the mass of atomic particles, and Plank’s constant all seem to have a changing value with time? Who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain. – Psalm 104:2
These are profound mysteries, and even the observation of changing values for atomic constants are frequently denied or ignored because of the implication upon traditionally accepted physics. The primary reason modern physics is helpless to adequately explain these type of inquiries is because it starts from the wrong assumption. Modern physics accepts an enormous age for the universe and attempts to explain everything based on this starting assumption.
Thus, it needs a very weak force (gravity) and lots of time to explain all of reality. Yet, this explanation cannot even explain the formation of a single star and relies on unseen faith in things like “dark matter” and “multiple universes” in an attempt to explain the impossible. A brilliant physicist from Australia, Barry Setterfield, has developed a plasma model of physics that seems to unify the anomalies that arenot explained by the Big Bang model. Setterfields’ theory accepts the scriptural teaching that God stretched out the heavens and realized that this must have been accompanied by enormously accelerated radioactive decay, red shifting of light in quantized bands, and energy added to the fabric of space (analogous to how a stretched rubber band is filled with energy). According to Setterfield, this process “wound up” the universe, providing the energy necessary for star and galaxy formation – all within a very brief period of time.
Who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain.
~ Psalm 104:2
Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett
References for this devotional.
Creation Devotional March 14 - Biology
Daily Devotional – March 14
Biology
Electric eels are not eels but fish that live in the murky waters of South America. They can reach 6 feet long and weigh 45 pounds. All living things generate electrical charges in their cells. The electric eel has thousands of modified cells in its tail that are lined up like batteries in a flashlight. Each cell can generate only about 0.15 volts, but stacked together, the 6,000 cells make one giant battery that can generate as much as 600 volts. In comparison, a car battery generates 12 volts yet has enough power to start a large car engine.
Pure water is a very poor conductor of electricity, but the waters where electric eels live have enough salt and other minerals to make the water a good conductor. To shock their prey, electric eels bring their positive end, located in their head, close to the negative end, located in their tail. The electric shock is sent out from the positive end to the negative end of the “battery.” How did the eel know to trap its prey between its head and tail such that the electrical discharge would stun or kill its prey? Basic physics teaches that bringing two opposite electrical poles together concentrates the electric field. Evolutionists call eels “primitive creatures”, but creationists studying eels are not “shocked” by their level of sophistication. God created these creatures to glorify Him.
I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.
- Psalm 145:5
Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett
References for this devotional.
Creation Devotional March 13 - Geology
Daily Devotional – March 13
Geology
For more than 100 years, oil or “black gold” has fueled our cars, trucks and economy. But how did these vast fields of oil form? The chemistry of oil offers some important clues. One of the chemicals in crude oils is porphyrin. Most petroleum geologists believe crude oils form mostly from plants, such as diatoms (single-celled marine and freshwater photosynthetic creatures), and beds of coal (huge fossilized masses of plant debris). The moderate heating of brown coals in the lab can produce crude oil and natural gas containing porphyrin. Keep in mind that animal blood also contains porphyrins. Oil can be made from animal slaughterhouse waste within two hours.
For porphyrins to be present in today’s crude oils means they have been kept from the presence of oxygen because porphyrins break down rapidly in the presence of oxygen. We do not see oil containing porphyrins forming today because oxygen destroys them during the oil formation. Yet worldwide, we find vast petroleum deposits that do contain this chemical. This supports the conclusion that much of the world’s oil reserves are the direct result of a worldwide catastrophic flood covering trillions of pounds of vegetation and animals. They were buried so rapidly that oxygen was not present to destroy the porphyrins. Deep rapid burial by additional sediments would have created sufficient heat to generate crude oils and natural gases. Subsequently, these migrated, became trapped in reservoir rocks, and accumulated to form gas and oil deposits. So, from what is oil made? Primarily squished vegetation and animals that were rapidly buried in the Flood of Noah’s day.
And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth….
~ Genesis 6:17
Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett
References for this devotional.
Creation Devotional March 12 - Geology
Daily Devotional – March 12
Geology
How old are diamonds? Scientists have found carbon-14 in diamonds. Carbon-14 (C) has a half-life of 5730 years, and so anything older than 100,000 years should contain no detectable levels of C. Finding C in diamonds means they are less than 100,000 years old. Yet all diamonds contain measurable amounts of C even though they are the hardest known naturally occurring substance, which is impervious to outside contamination. C in diamonds means they are young. There are also other clues revealing the actual age of diamonds.
Kimberlite is a volcanic rock which often contains diamonds. These carrot-shaped rocky tubes begin at the earth’s mantle and rapidly carried diamonds from deep within the earth to the surface. A wooden log that was fresh and unpetrified has been discovered deep within a Canadian kimberlite pipe. There have been other such reports of finding unpetrified wood in kimberlite pipes. How did this wood get deep within the earth, and why is it not petrified or rotted if it has been there for millions of years? Scientists think the logs got there by local catastrophic forces. Fresh unpetrified wood in the same rock as diamonds means diamonds are young. Also, consider that artificial diamonds are rapidly made by the exact same processes of high pressure and temperature as natural diamonds. An artificial diamond can be made in the same amount of time that it takes to wash a car! If we can make artificial diamonds so rapidly, why would we assume it takes billions of years to make natural diamonds?
The evidence of C in diamonds, fresh wood found in kimberlite, and the ability to rapidly make artificial diamonds all cry out, “The earth is young.”
[Mankind] putteth forth his hand upon the rock; he overturneth the mountains by the roots…where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?
~ Job 28:9, 12
Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett
References for this devotional.
Creation Devotional March 11 - Design
Daily Devotional – March 11
Design
If we open our eyes, we will see the handiwork of God everywhere. One of these areas is in the design of flowers. Flowers are critical for the complex mechanism by which God reproduces flowering plants. This multiple-step process involves the pollination of flowers to produce seeds, which then produces the next generation of plants. Flowers draw the pollinator to the flower, yet we find some flower designs that just perplex us. Flowers exhibit a dizzying variety of complexity, design, and beauty. What purpose is there for a flower to look like a monkey, a bird flying or a person? What evolutionary function is served by this beauty? Absolutely none! They exist purely for our enjoyment and to reveal God’s incredible genius and creativity.
Why would the Monkey Face Orchid (Dracula Simia) flower decide to make itself look like a monkey? How could the White Egret Orchid (Habenaria Radiata) flower decide to make itself look like a flying bird or even the Naked Man Orchid (Orchis Italica) flower look like a person? These are a few examples of God’s creativity in the design of flowers.
He hath made everything beautiful in his time….
~ Ecclesiastes 3:11
Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett
References for this devotional.
Creation Devotional March 10 - Microbiology
Daily Devotional – March 10
Microbiology
In the last decade, it has become apparent that bacteria are far more varied and versatile than any other kind of creature on Earth. Scientists estimate there is somewhere between 10 million and 1 billion different species of bacteria and have discovered that they are essential for all forms of life – including us! Bacteria help digest the food we eat, provide nutrients, prevent diseases, and produce oxygen. It has also been discovered that bacteria can readily exchange DNA fragments with other bacteria. Because they reproduce so rapidly, this allows the bacteria to test different defenses and environments, capabilities, and strategies for survival. Those that don’t succeed die out while characteristics with an advantage prosper.
So why do bacteria vary so widely? Evolutionists teach that changes in the environment drive bacteria to change; however, that is not true. It is the internal programming of the bacteria that allows them to vary in order to thrive in a wide variety of environments. Evolutionists use the fact that bacteria can transfer DNA coding from one type of bacteria to another as proof of evolutionary advancement, but don’t be fooled by the sleight of hand. What they call evolution is just bacteria doing what they were programmed to do. No one has ever identified a microbe in either the laboratory or the fossil record which is evolving into another kind of creature. They are always clearly identifiable as bacteria.
The vast majority of bacteria are either helpful or harmless, but a small percentage have degenerated into harmful organisms. Even this testifies to the reality of Scripture – death entered into creation because of our rebellion against our Creator, and even the smallest of creatures have become part of the penalty of death, which we brought upon ourselves.
But who so hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.
~ Proverbs 1:33
Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett
References for this devotional.
Creation Devotional March 9 - Microbiology
Daily Devotional – March 9
Microbiology
One of the most famous chemistry experiments ever performed was the Miller experiment - first reported in 1952. Over 60 years later this experiment is still presented in biology textbooks worldwide as proof that life formed by itself early in the earth’s history. In this experiment, a researcher named Stanley Miller circulated ammonia, methane, hydrogen, and water vapor through a tube and added sparks in order to cause amino acids to form (coined the “building blocks of life”). Yet, students are seldom told the rest of the story.
In order for these amino acids to form proteins, they must link up in a polymerization reaction that requires both ends of the molecule to remain reactive until the entire protein molecule has formed. Visualize a stack of Lego blocks – you can keep adding blocks to the top or bottom of the stack until a block with a flat, undented surface is added to either side. Then no more blocks can be added to that side of the stack. It is now no longer “reactive”. In the Miller experiment, a “flat topped Lego block” is always formed - it is called formic acid. Formic acid is the most common molecule formed during the Miller experiment. The instant formic acid reacts with an amino acid the molecules stop linking up. As a result, no useful protein molecules are ever produced in this experiment.
What this experiment actually demonstrates is that life could not possibly have formed in this way! When problems like this are not shown to students, it is deception, not education. So why is this experiment, which does not work to explain life, still cited in biology books over sixty years later? Textbook writers simply cannot accept the logical conclusion that life can only come from a Creator outside of the time, space, and matter universe. The correct explanation for the existence of life (creation by God) has been eliminated from the thinking of generation after generation of students reading such textbooks. Where does life come from? It’s still a mystery to evolutionists but not to Bible-believing Christians - life comes from God.
And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
~ Genesis 2:7
Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett
References for this devotional.
Creation Devotional March 8 - Biology
Daily Devotional – March 8
Biology
Have you considered the bird called the whip-poor-will? I remember sleeping at Grandma’s and hearing the night music of the whip-poor-will putting me to sleep. This jay-sized bird makes its home where jack pine forests or oak savannas meet meadows and pastures. This nocturnal bird hunts mosquitoes, moths and beetles. On a moon-lit night, you might see it doing aerial stunts like banking, dipping, diving and hovering to catch its prey. It doesn’t build a nest but lays two eggs on the forest floor in fallen leaves. Both parents care for the young, making frequent hunting trips bringing back regurgitated bug porridge. They also exhibit one other fascinating characteristic - whip-poor-wills time their eggs to hatch exactly 10 days before the full moon. But why?
The bird chicks are at their hungriest about 10 days after hatching. Ten days after they come out of their eggs, the moon is at its brightest. Insects are the easiest to see and catch during a full moon. How did the first whip-poor-will come up with this idea? Did it have a calendar of when the full moon would appear, and then counted back 10 days for the hatching? A bird does not think about this; it comes about by instinct. The precise timing had to be preinstalled on the bird’s software, i.e. its brain. When we see such preinstalled software, we know there must be a software engineer. So, when you hear the night music of the whip-poor-will, think of the greatest software engineer, God.
The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;
~ Song of Solomon 2:12
Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett
References for this devotional.
Creation Devotional March 7 - Cosmology
Daily Devotional – March 7
Cosmology
The universe exhibits the same precise movements as a finely crafted clock.
Beginning with our own solar system, we find that the planets orbit in the same direction, counter clockwise as viewed from above the earth’s North Pole. Each planet’s orbit is stable and precise. A planet’s orbital momentum tends to send the planet in a straight line, but the sun’s gravity pulls the planet’s path into a circle (or nearly a circle, an ellipse). If the planets did not have orbital motion, the sun would pull them in and burn them up. Nearly circular orbits prevent planets from straying into another planet’s orbit. All the planets orbit the sun in about the same plane (called the ecliptic). This allows them to be easily located from earth AND for the large gas giants to protect earth from comet-sized bodies.
The Milky Way Galaxy also shows clockwork design. The stars in our galaxy orbit the central hub in such a manner that gravity keeps the stars in a stable orbit. These billions of stars all travel in the same direction, thereby preventing collisions.
Such clockwork motion implies that there must be a clock-maker. We do not say a clock made itself. Clockwork motion means there is One who is a clockmaker, and that One is God. The heavens do declare the glory of God!
The heavens declare the glory of God….
~ Psalm 19:1
Source: "Pearls in Paradise" by authors Bruce Malone and Jule Von Vett
References for this devotional.
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