TWINKLE TWINKLE LITTLE STAR, HOW I WONDER HOW OLD YOU ARE?

Evolution v. Creation series

The familiar nursery rhyme of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” belies the long-standing controversy of the distance of stars and therefore, their age.

You may be thinking, are we discussing “distance” or “time?”

The short answer is, “both.”

Distant starlight has long been used as an argument against a young universe. Since there are galaxies full of stars that are very far away, it currently takes the light rays billions of years to get from there to Earth, and since these galaxies are visible to us each evening, many believe that the universe must be at least billions of years old—much older than the 6,000-10,000 years the Bible teaches.

First of all, the vastness of the universe is a way giving glory to God (Psalm 19:1).

For years, Christians have argued that God created the beams of light from these far distant stars “already on their way” here. They are quick to point out that Adam was created in a mature state, as he was commanded to be fruitful and multiply. He never had a mother, never nursed nor likely had any need of a navel! Also, the Garden of Eden was clearly created in a mature state, in that it gave fruit to our original parents to eat.

Genesis 1-2, in describing Day 4, seems to indicate to many that the universe was also made in a fully mature state. If not, the stars were not made visible, then how could they be used to give “signs and seasons.” This would be achieved if the light from these distant stars was created already “on the way.”

The creation movement has a controversy within itself about assuming that the light was created in-transit. From our modern observatories, we can actually observe events still happening in deep space. We can observe the movement, expansion, contraction and even destruction of stars. These celestial lights above are occasionally even obliterated by massive explosions we can watch.

Critics argue that these events we can literally watch occur never actually even happened, if God created the light beams already “on their way.” It would indicate to some that the stars we see expanding may never have even been there to begin with. Exploding stars may have never exploded or even existed, they argue.

So, did God merely fictionalize history when it came to distant stars? To more than a few creationists, God would never create illusory events. It smacks of dishonesty to some.

However, is it really that simple to write off this--the oldest of creationist apologist’s explanations? Think back to the Garden of Eden. Let’s assume that we look at a simple apple tree on Day 6, as Adam is under the first anesthesia, having the first surgery that will produce the first woman.

This twenty-five foot tall tree is covered with apples, many of which are ready to eat. The trunk looks mature and old, and there are leaves or more. Naturalistically speaking, an apple seed from an even older apple would have had to “die” in the ground to birth this one. Years of necessary watering, sunny days, and bee-pollinated blossoms did not occur, but the tree is nevertheless here in the Garden.

The very soil is formed mostly by the death and degradation of organic matter like plants. Again, these plants never lived, died or decayed. But the mature soil still exists. And, to borrow the old riddle, the chickens are walking around without the benefit yet of the very first egg.

Is this God fictionalizing as well? Or, in fact, is the setting in motion of natural processes that appear as if they have existed for millennia? I would contend that God started time with an appearance mirroring his Trinitarian Godhead, in three parts—past, present and future. It is only very far way that we can even see the created past. What of the wine in the jug as Christ’s first miracle? The grapes were never grown. What of the fish that fed the 5,000 who apparently never swam? What of the bread that was made of wheat the was never planted, and never swayed in the sunny breezes? Miracles are supernatural, by definition.

That does not mean that people are not still looking for an explanation. There are other creationist theories developing as well. I will just touch upon a couple briefly.

Speed of Light’s Consistency:

It assumed that the speed of light is constantly one year to travel 6 trillion miles, or 186,300 miles per second. If though, light was faster in the past, light could travel the distance without any delay. Light speed might have been affected by gravity or other factors.

Perception of Time:

Albert Einstein discovered that time passes differently depending on motion and gravity. If a spaceship moved fast enough--close to the speed of light--“time-dilation” occurs. As a clock approaches the speed of light, that clock would tick very slowly. If we could somehow reach the speed of light, the clock would stop completely. Also, gravity slows the passage of time. An atomic clock at sea-level ticks slower than one on a mountain, based on the strength of gravity. If Earth’s gravity varied in the past, (sometime called a “white hole”) that caused quick expansion--it may be that time would seem to flow more slowly on earth than in the distant universe. This would be somewhat akin to the way time zones interrelate.

In general, we can observe things about the galaxy that seem inconsistent at first glance with a young universe. However, there are many items that argue strongly against a universe of any age approaching multiple billion years.

For instance, many stars burn too hot to last long. Some called “hot blue” stars, cannot last billions of years. Spiral galaxies are common, but cannot be very old because they continue to twist. Disintegrating comets and decaying magnetic fields are in our own galaxy, and are not consistent with billions of years. Thus, the location and distance of the heavenly bodies challenge the alleged long age of the universe.

The stars’ location should cause no serious challenge to a young earth creationist, or belief in the God who named each one. Whatever theory comes in or out of vogue in creationist circles, we know that the heavens declare the glory of God:

He determines the number of the stars

and calls them each by name.

Great is our Lord and mighty in power;

his understanding has no limit.

Psalms 147:4-5.

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER RULED UNCONSTITUTIONAL

George Washington and our other founding fathers could scarcely have imagined that their idea for a National Day of Prayer would one day be declared against the very Constitution that many of them wrote. The Continental Congress called for "a day of public humiliation, fasting, and prayer" be observed in 1775.

Over 200 years later, on April 15, 2010, Judge Crabb ruled that the statute establishing the National Day of Prayer was unconstitutional as it is "an inherently religious exercise that serves no secular function". However, she stayed her ruling pending the completion of appeals.

She explains her position in her ruling, wherein she stated the following:

“In my view of the case law, government involvement in prayer may be consistent with the establishment clause when the government's conduct serves a significant secular purpose and is not a "call for religious action on the part of citizens." McCreary County, Kentucky v. American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky, 545 U.S. 844, 877 (2005). Unfortunately, (section) 119 cannot meet that test. It goes beyond mere "acknowledgment" of religion because its sole purpose is to encourage all citizens to engage in prayer, an inherently religious exercise that serves no secular function in this context. In this instance, the government has taken sides on a matter that must be left to individual conscience. "When the government associates one set of religious beliefs with the state and identifies nonadherents as outsiders, it encroaches upon the individual's decision about whether and how to worship." McCreary County, 545 U.S. at 883 (O'Connor, J., concurring). Accordingly, I conclude that (section) 119 violates the establishment clause.”

“It bears emphasizing that a conclusion that the establishment clause prohibits the government from endorsing a religious exercise is not a judgment on the value of prayer or the millions of Americans who believe in its power. No one can doubt the important role that prayer plays in the spiritual life of a believer. In the best of times, people may pray as a way of expressing joy and thanks; during times of grief, many find that prayer provides comfort. Others may pray to give praise, seek forgiveness, ask for guidance or find the truth. "And perhaps it is not too much to say that since the beginning of th[e] history [of humans] many people have devoutly believed that 'More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.'" Engel v. Vitale, 370 U.S. 421, 433 (1962). However, recognizing the importance of prayer to many people does not mean that the government may enact a statute in support of it, any more than the government may encourage citizens to fast during the month of Ramadan, attend a synagogue, purify themselves in a sweat lodge or practice rune magic. In fact, it is because the nature of prayer is so personal and can have such a powerful effect on a community that the government may not use its authority to try to influence an individual's decision whether and when to pray.”

Ultimately, there is massive misunderstanding between freedom OF religion and freedom FROM religion. America continues to turn her back on God.

See more articles on PeelLawFirm.com and DavidBPeel.blogspot.com. Mr. Peel maybe available to speak to your church or club.

Just How Bad is the Economy? Looking for Some Humor in Gloomy Days:

In this day and age, the economy is on everyone’s minds.

Some experts are saying that the economy is improving because house sales are increasing and the stock market is turning around.

Other pundits are saying that with gold prices up, and continued job losses, that the economy is flagging.

On a purely tongue-in-cheek basis, I have created a humorous checklist that we regular people can look at to see how the economy is actually doing.

12. If you order a burger at McDonalds and the kid behind the counter asks, "Can you afford fries with that?"

11. If your boss asks you for a personal loan.

10. If the CEO of your company cancels his exclusive country club membership and has recently been seen playing putt-putt golf.

9. If the credit card offer you receive in the mail was already pre-declined.

8. If your stock in Hot Wheels and Matchbox car companies is trading higher than GM and Chrysler.

7. If, instead of the Quarter Pounder, McDonald's starts selling the Quarter Ouncer.

6. If rich people fire their nannies, and actually start to learn their children's names.

5. If the most highly-paid job available you know of is jury duty.

4. If people in Africa start donating money to Americans. (Mothers in Ethiopia start telling their kids, "Finish your plate; do you know how many kids are starving in America?")

3. If Motel Six just won't leave the lights on for you.

2. If airlines begin charging by the pound.

1. If your bank returns your check marked as "insufficient funds," and they call and say it was their funds that were insufficient, not yours!

There is just nothing wrong with this country that a Great Depression or a World War couldn’t fix.

Tiger’s Transgressions

Famous golfer Tiger Woods has confessed many sins of late, after the tabloids were hot on his trail.

His selfish behavior put his wife and children at risk, threatened his employees’ livelihoods, eroded the trust of his wife and left a legacy of disillusionment for his children. In his own words, he said he felt “entitled” to the pleasure of such misdeeds. How could he say such a thing?

There is a simple answer. It’s called “Narcissism.”

Someone with Narcissistic Personality disorder (NPD) has at least 5 of these symptoms:

.has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements)

.is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love

.believes that he or she is "special" and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions)

.requires excessive admiration

.has a sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations

.takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends

.lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others

.is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her

.shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes

If you are living with a person with NPD, you will likely find them blaming you for behaviors or feelings (i.e., "YOU made me do this," or "YOU made me feel this way.")

They will seldom if ever take responsibility for angry behavior and hurtful acts. They will have an attitude that demonstrates "the world revolves around me" and "you need to cater to my ideas, opinions, thoughts, and feelings."

But you may think that you can just talk to them. But, those with NPD have an extreme unwillingness to reflect on his/her own behaviors. In other words, when you talk to a normal person who has offended you, they might realize they are wrong. Narcissists will be far too busy determining how you are wrong to consider their part. If there is an apology, it will be an explanation and there is likely a false motive behind it. 


Finally, they lie. A lot. About everything and nothing. Lying is as easy to them as the truth. It is all about what they think others think of them. For instance, if a Narcissist thinks of herself as one who does the appropriate thing, and that includes sending you a card, she may lie and claim she mailed one to you. If you explain you never received it, then she will say that is the mail’s fault, or yours. Why? Because the reality that she has failed to live up to the “false self” is more than she can handle.

Those with NPD usually cannot turn lose of their adult kids and cause a lot of problems in marriages. Almost all folks with NPD die abandoned by those who cannot fit into their fantasy world.

WHAT MATTERS MOST

What Matters Most

A couple of my favorite sayings discuss priorities.

“Don’t Major in the Minors.”

“The Main Thing is to keep the Main Thing, the Main Thing.”

Priorities are always present, where do you set them or allow them to set themselves. Unfortunately, many of our priorities are just set by default. In other words, we wind up doing what is urgent, but not necessarily what is important.

Business consultants and other motivational professionals have made a living for years helping executives prioritize and be more productive with their time. In order to do that, they first establish with the executive what his or her priorities are.

Most executives talk about time with family, business productivity and some type of personal fulfillment.

However when pressed, most of the same executives are unable to identify any amount of time spent in the last week directed towards bettering their family or achieving personal fulfillment. In fact, because of the fast-paced nature of business, the “urgent but unimportant” matters have taken up their entire week. At best, their time has been spent trying to achieve productivity of the company. Recall however, that productivity of the company was only one of three major priorities in his or her life.

The real issue is not easily defined. In our “instant gratification” “what have you done for me lately?” culture we are sending e-mails, instant messaging, texting, but spend precious little time planning for the future. As a matter of fact, when is the last time you sat calmly and thoughtfully planned? If you're like most of us, we find that, with the commercial says is true: "life comes at you fast."

We hear a lot about goal setting and prioritizing our life. But so few of us do it, I don't know if we see the benefits. Possibly, if we saw the upside to doing it, we'd be more likely to pursue the time-consuming practice of planning. As a shortcut to get started, list several things that you want to do better in the next 30 days. Then take those 30 days, divide them into four weeks and decide which goals you will work on this week. Now, pick one for today before five o'clock. That will put a particularly sharp importance on it.

Here are some sample goals to get you started in making the next 30 days the best they can be. Number one, resolve to actively show love and appreciation to those closest to you. Whether that be sending flowers to your wife, cooking your husband's favorite dinner, or an unexpected matinee for the kids.

Number two, spend time getting to know your Maker. Regardless of what you may believe, you were specially made by the Lord above, and He has a plan for your life. If you don't know Him personally, then don't be surprised if He seems distant and harsh. If you had an earthly father you have never seen, and you only heard fairly negative things about him, I suspect that your earthly father would seem distant harsh, as well. If you're not sure where to start, open the book of John and begin to read. Ask God to make himself real to you, as He always answers that prayer in the heart of a truth seeker.

Thirdly, meet a personal goal of learning. What is it that you would like to learn, or do, or become in the future? The way to achieve a goal like that is to set the goal out and then figure out what steps it will take to get you there. If you want to get a degree, but you have to take some prerequisite courses, sign up for the course today! If you want to have your own business, make appointments with successful business owners ask them what they wish they knew starting out. If you want to get out of debt, cut up the stupid credit cards today!

The important thing is to do something. Many are those who will give you excuses why you cannot succeed. But if you listen closely to their “reasons," you will find that they are really merely excuses. There is no reason why a 65 year old should have been successful starting Kentucky Fried Chicken, but he was. There were plenty of excuses to stop him. There is no reason George Washington Carver should have succeeded as a scientist as a black man in the South during the time that he lived. He had many excuses why not to try, but he tried anyway. There is no reason you cannot do whatever it is God has put into your heart. He never calls you into an area that He doesn't also equip you go.

But, just like eating, while He “feeds the birds of the air,” He doesn't throw it up in the nest every morning. They have got to go out and scratch for it. I can almost hear God wish us all, “Happy scratching!”

See more of Mr. Peel’s articles on DavidBPeel.blogspot.com. Mr. Peel may be available to speak to your church or club. Contact PeelLawFirm.com.

NOAH’S ARK: FAIRY TALE OR FANTASTIC VOYAGE?

Evolution vs. Creation PART 5 of 12

A story about eight humans and two of every kind of animal in one giant boat during a global flood? Sounds to most like a fairy tale.

As children, most of us saw renderings of Noah’s Ark as a little banana-shaped boat, with giraffe’s necks looping comically out the windows. Fluffy clouds with a cute rainbow always seemed to complete the picture. Evolutionists especially discount the story.

But the Bible seems to describe it as a real event, not an allegory or a parable. This has caused a lot of controversy, to say the least. Even more troubling for Christians who doubt the veracity of the Scriptures, is that Jesus Himself quoted it as fact:

“As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.” —Matthew 24:37-39.

So, why not just believe it as written?

There are many arguments that are espoused against the story.

The boat was too big. In order to hold the animals, it would have to be very large. The size of the boat itself is given in Scripture (Gen. 6:15), and would measure at least 450 feet long and about 75 feet wide and 45 feet high. While this is the proportion of modern cargo ships, it would be an enormous wooden ship, at a length longer than a football field. However, there is no reason it could not have been built.

The animals would not fit. Actually, since the Bible only requires “kinds” (Gen. 20) there would be far fewer animals needed than most expect at two of all and seven of some. Probably about 15,000 animals total, and if they were juveniles or even eggs, they would be smaller. This would help out, especially on the dinosaurs that were called to the Ark.

There could not have been dinosaurs on the ark! Well, “behemoth” in Job 40, written after the flood, is what most of us think as long-necked dinosaur. His ancestors had to survive the flood, where most did not. Bones of dinosaurs are usually found fossilized in Flood sediment. Some had to survive. Juveniles of dinosaurs are small, and can breed in the future.

Animals won’t just come in to a ship. We still see inexplicable homing instincts and migration patterns even in modern animals. It is consistent with a supernatural God who controls the waves to guide the animals.

Eight people could not feed the animals. The most common answer to this argument (and the related amount of waste) is hibernation. This is practiced in many species even now. Whether God caused it, or it was just the normal response to the darkness of a moving ship, this seems quite plausible. Also, Noah was told to build rooms (“qen”—literally in Hebrew “nests”) in Genesis 6:14 seems to tell us they were nesting.

If they slept, who was the food for? Remember that there were seven of each clean kind. Surely, some of those produced dairy products, and possibly meat, for the humans. The clean animals had to eat something. Further, feed hoppers are used on farms even now for ease of animal feeding.

Much more can be said, but the message of the Ark is really the message of the cross: the judgment of God comes, but the mercy of God made a way for safety. Once sealed in the Ark, through tossed to and fro, they were safe. In Christ, regardless of the storm-tossed seas of life, the Bible assures us that we are sealed in Him.

All prior articles in this series can be found by searching my blog at DavidBPeel.Blogspot.com.

Identity Theft

Identity Theft Heartless Crime

Recently, while visiting with friends in Germantown, I noticed a marked security guard parked across the street in front of a home.

When I inquired about it, they explained that the man that lived there passed away and it is now normal for a security guard to be posted after a death. It saddens me, but it makes sense. Funeral arrangements are published in the paper. Mother’s maiden names and similar information is there for the taking. Clearly, the house may be empty during services. Burglars prefer unarmed victims and empty houses.

Weddings are also becoming a similar problem. Back when we married, you had to pay for the cake, food, flowers and a dress. Now, I guess you must add security to that list.

Has society dropped this far?

The rituals of death and love are now fodder for the lowest of society to pounce upon?

I guess I should not be surprised, but I am still disappointed.

Here you'll find recent identity theft statistics from a variety of official sources. We update this page on a regular basis, so visit us often to see the latest facts and figures on this widespread crime. How widespread is it?

There were 10 million victims of identity theft just in 2008 in the United States and 1 in every 10 U.S. consumers has already been victimized by identity theft.

Also, it may not be discovered immediately. Only 38-48% discover someone has stolen their identity within three months, while 9-18% of victims don't learn that their identity has been stolen for four or more years.

And, it is a mess to straighten out, even though it may not cost you actual money. The average victim spends 330 hours repairing the damage.

And, it can interfere with your life. 47% of victims encounter problems qualifying for a new loan while 70% of victims have difficulty removing negative information that resulted from identity theft from their credit reports.

Who does this? Fully 43% of victims knew the perpetrator! Stolen wallets and physical paperwork accounts for almost half (43%) of all identity theft.

Keep an eye on your credit report for free at www.AnnualCreditReport.com

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